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Ecclesiastes 4:5

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— The foole foldeth his hands together, and eateth his owne flesh.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— The fool folds his hands together and suffers hunger.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
The fool 3684
{3684} Prime
כְּסִיל
k@ciyl
{kes-eel'}
From H3688; properly fat, that is, (figuratively) stupid or silly.
foldeth y2263
[2263] Standard
חָבַק
chabaq
{khaw-bak'}
A primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace).
z0
<0000> Grammar
The original word in the Greek or Hebrew is translated by more than one word in the English. The English translation is separated by one or more other words from the original.
his hands y3027
[3027] Standard
יָד
yad
{yawd}
A primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote.
together, 2263
{2263} Prime
חָבַק
chabaq
{khaw-bak'}
A primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace).
z8802
<8802> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386
x853
(0853) Complement
אֵת
'eth
{ayth}
Apparently contracted from H0226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely).
x3027
(3027) Complement
יָד
yad
{yawd}
A primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote.
and eateth 398
{0398} Prime
אָכַל
'akal
{aw-kal'}
A primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively).
z8802
<8802> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386
x853
(0853) Complement
אֵת
'eth
{ayth}
Apparently contracted from H0226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely).
his own flesh. 1320
{1320} Prime
בָּשָׂר
basar
{baw-sawr'}
From H1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension body, person; also (by euphemism) the pudenda of a man.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Ecclesiastes 4:5

_ _ Still the fool (the wicked oppressor) is not to be envied even in this life, who “folds his hands together” in idleness (Proverbs 6:10; Proverbs 24:33), living on the means he wrongfully wrests from others; for such a one

_ _ eateth his own flesh — that is, is a self-tormentor, never satisfied, his spirit preying on itself (Isaiah 9:20; Isaiah 49:26).

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Ecclesiastes 4:5

The fool — Is careless and idle: perceiving that diligence is attended with envy, he runs into the other extreme. Eateth — Wastes his substance, and brings himself to poverty, whereby his very flesh pines away for want of bread.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Ecclesiastes 4:5

The fool foldeth his hands together, and (e) eateth his own flesh.

(e) For idleness he is compelled to destroy himself.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
fool:

Proverbs 6:10-11 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ... So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 12:27 The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
Proverbs 24:33-34 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ... So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

eateth:
That is, with envy (see
Ecclesiastes 4:4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
), though too idle to follow his neighbour's example.
Job 13:14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but [he that is] cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Isaiah 9:20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Jb 13:14. Pv 6:10; 11:17; 12:27; 13:4; 20:4; 24:33. Ec 4:4. Is 9:20.

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