To learn to read and to understand the words of Scripture
Ecclesiastes 7:7 in Hebrew כִּ֥י הָעֹ֖שֶׁק יְהֹולֵ֣ל חָכָ֑ם וִֽיאַבֵּ֥ד אֶת־לֵ֖ב מַתָּנָֽה׃ Introduction to the Verse Ecclesiastes 7:7 presents a statement about the corrupting influence of oppression and bribery. A key grammatical feature in this verse is the Hiphil verbal stem, which appears in the verbs יְהֹולֵ֣ל (yəhōlēl) and יַאֲבֵּ֥ד (yaʾabbed). Understanding the Hiphil Stem 1.…
שַׁלַּ֥ח לַחְמְךָ֖ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַמָּ֑יִם כִּֽי־בְרֹ֥ב הַיָּמִ֖ים תִּמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃ (Ecclesiastes 11:1) Send out your bread upon the surface of the waters, for in many days you will find it. Wisdom in Motion Over the Waters Ecclesiastes 11:1 opens a new thematic section of Qohelet, blending wisdom with paradox, urging action amidst uncertainty. The imperative שַׁלַּ֥ח לַחְמְךָ֖ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י…
זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹוקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּבֹ֖וד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃ (Ecclesiastes 10:1) Dead flies cause the perfumer’s oil to stink and ferment; a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Wisdom Spoiled by a Whisper of Folly This verse opens the tenth chapter of Ecclesiastes with a powerful metaphor: זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹוקֵ֑חַ—“Dead…
כִּ֣י אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֞ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶל־לִבִּי֙ וְלָב֣וּר אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַצַּדִּיקִ֧ים וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם בְּיַ֣ד הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים גַּֽם־אַהֲבָ֣ה גַם־שִׂנְאָ֗ה אֵ֤ין יֹודֵ֨עַ֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם הַכֹּ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (Ecclesiastes 9:1) For all this I set to my heart, and to examine all this: that the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Both love as well as hatred,…
מִ֚י כְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔ם וּמִ֥י יֹודֵ֖עַ פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר חָכְמַ֤ת אָדָם֙ תָּאִ֣יר פָּנָ֔יו וְעֹ֥ז פָּנָ֖יו יְשֻׁנֶּֽא׃ (Ecclesiastes 8:1) Who is like the wise man, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? The wisdom of a man makes his face shine, and the strength of his face is changed. Wisdom That Transfigures the Face This exquisite proverb-like reflection…
טֹ֥וב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן טֹ֑וב וְיֹ֣ום הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיֹּ֖ום הִוָּלְדֹֽו׃ (Ecclesiastes 7:1) A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. Of Names and Anointing Ecclesiastes 7:1 begins a series of paradoxical proverbs, and it opens with a poetic comparison that captures the essence of legacy: טֹ֥וב שֵׁ֖ם…
יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְרַבָּ֥ה הִ֖יא עַל־הָאָדָֽם׃ "There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and great it is upon the man." A Refrain of Disturbance Ecclesiastes 6:1 begins with a haunting declaration: יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ—“There is an evil that I have seen under the sun.” This…
שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תֵּלֵךְ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקָרֹ֣וב לִשְׁמֹ֔עַ מִתֵּ֥ת הַכְּסִילִ֖ים זָ֑בַח כִּֽי־אֵינָ֥ם יֹודְעִ֖ים לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות רָֽע׃ (Ecclesiastes 4:17) Guard your foot when you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know how to do evil. Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching…
וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ וְאֵ֥ין לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם׃ (Ecclesiastes 4:1) And I turned and saw all the oppressed who are done under the sun; and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and there is no comforter for them. And from the hand of…
יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְרַבָּ֥ה הִ֖יא עַל־הָאָדָֽם׃ (Ecclesiastes 6:1) There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon mankind. Ecclesiastes 6:1 introduces an observation about human suffering using the existential particle יֵשׁ (yesh), which signifies existence or presence. The verse also employs a construct chain (רָעָה…