Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes

The Use of the Hiphil Stem in Ecclesiastes 7:7

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, … Continue reading

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“Remember Your Creator”: Urgency and Imperative Wisdom in Ecclesiastes 12:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 12:1: Memory Before the Days of Trouble Ecclesiastes 12:1 begins the final poetic crescendo of Qohelet, opening with a direct imperative: וּזְכֹר אֶת־בֹּורְאֶיךָ—“Remember your Creator.” It is a call not merely to mental recollection but to covenantal … Continue reading

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“Cast Your Bread”: Imperatives of Faith and Risk in Ecclesiastes 11:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 11:1: 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 הַמָּ֑יִם—“Cast your bread upon the waters”—is a vivid, … Continue reading

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“Dead Flies in the Perfume”: The Disruptive Power of Minimal Folly in Ecclesiastes 10:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 10:1: 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 flies make the perfumer’s oil stink.” What follows is a moral … Continue reading

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“I Gave to My Heart”: The Inner Dialogue of Qohelet in Ecclesiastes 9:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 9:1: Reflection in the Hand of Elohim Ecclesiastes 9:1 opens with a deeply introspective declaration: כִּ֣י אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֞ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶל־לִבִּי֙—“For all this I laid to my heart.” This expression recurs throughout the book of Qohelet and functions as … Continue reading

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“Who Knows the Interpretation?” – Unlocking פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר in Ecclesiastes 8:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 8:1: Wisdom That Transfigures the Face This exquisite proverb-like reflection in Ecclesiastes 8:1 opens with two rhetorical questions and closes with a poetic image. The key phrase, פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר (“the interpretation of a matter”), evokes the ancient … Continue reading

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“Better Than Oil”: The Wisdom of Comparison in טֹ֥וב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן טֹ֑וב

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 7:1: 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 מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן טֹ֑וב. This proverbial saying not only showcases elegant … Continue reading

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“There Is an Evil I Have Seen”: The Declarative יֵ֣שׁ + רָעָ֔ה as Philosophical Alarm in Ecclesiastes 6:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 6:1: 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 recurring formula in Qohelet’s discourse is not merely … Continue reading

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“Watch Your Step”: The Imperative שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ and Reverence in Worship

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching the House of Elohim with Caution Ecclesiastes 4:17 (5:1 in English Bibles) opens with a striking imperative: שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ—“guard your feet.” This instruction is not about physical safety, but spiritual posture. Qohelet urges the worshiper … Continue reading

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“No Comforter for Them”: Repetition as Grief in Ecclesiastes 4:1

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:1: Lament Beneath the Sun Ecclesiastes 4:1 returns to a central theme in Qohelet’s worldview—the injustice and sorrow experienced under the sun. The verse is structured as a lamentation, where the Preacher observes the suffering of the … Continue reading

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