הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֹֽו׃
(Ecclesiastes 4:5)
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- הַכְּסִיל – “the fool.” The הַ is the definite article (“the”), and כְּסִיל is a noun meaning a foolish or senseless person—someone who rejects wisdom and sound judgment.
- חֹבֵק – “embraces” or “folds.” This is a participle from the root חָבַק (“to embrace, fold”). Here it vividly describes crossing the arms in idleness.
- אֶת־יָדָיו – “his hands.” The particle אֶת marks the direct object. יָד means “hand,” and -ָיו is the 3rd person masculine singular possessive ending (“his”), here in plural form—“his hands.”
- וְאֹכֵל – “and eats.” The וְ (“and”) joins this to the previous phrase. אֹכֵל is a participle from אָכַל (“to eat”), giving a sense of ongoing or habitual action.
- אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ – “his flesh.” Again, אֶת marks the object. בָּשָׂר means “flesh,” and -וֹ means “his.” Here it is metaphorical—describing self-harm or self-destruction.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This verse flows in a straightforward Hebrew sequence: Subject → Verb → Object → Verb → Object.
- Subject: הַכְּסִיל – the fool.
- First Action: חֹבֵק – folds.
- First Object: אֶת־יָדָיו – his hands.
- Second Action: וְאֹכֵל – and eats.
- Second Object: אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ – his flesh.
Hebrew here keeps the actions in simple sequence, letting each one hit the listener like a drumbeat—folds, eats—driving home the proverb’s sting.
Sentence Flow Diagram
| Subject | Verb 1 | Object 1 | Verb 2 | Object 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַכְּסִיל the fool |
חֹבֵק folds |
אֶת־יָדָיו his hands |
וְאֹכֵל and eats |
אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ his flesh |
Hebrew Sentence Building
The verse sets up a strong visual contrast in just two short actions. First, the idle pose (חֹבֵק אֶת־יָדָיו – folding one’s hands) creates the image of doing nothing. Then comes the disturbing result (וְאֹכֵל אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ – eating his own flesh), a jarring metaphor that forces the reader to imagine the cost of such idleness.
Hebrew Unlocked!
It might be a small verse, but you just unpacked definite articles, participles, the direct object marker אֶת, and possessive endings. More than that—you saw how Hebrew poetry punches with short, sharp images. You’ve stepped into the shoes of the original hearer, and each word you’ve learned is another tool in your growing Hebrew toolkit!
