Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes 11:10

The Twin Imperatives of Letting Go: Imperative Chains in Ecclesiastes 11:10

וְהָסֵ֥ר כַּ֨עַס֙ מִלִּבֶּ֔ךָ וְהַעֲבֵ֥ר רָעָ֖ה מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הַיַּלְד֥וּת וְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּת הָֽבֶל׃ Ecclesiastes 11:10 concludes a poetic exhortation on youth and mortality with a double command: וְהָסֵ֥ר כַּ֨עַס מִלִּבֶּךָ and וְהַעֲבֵ֥ר רָעָ֖ה מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָ. These imperatives invite the reader not only to rejoice in life but to release inner turmoil and physical harm. The verse employs two different Hifil imperatives—הָסֵר (“remove”) and הַעֲבֵר (“cause to pass away”)—in parallel form. Together, they build a theology of emotional and ethical detachment, leading into the haunting refrain: כִּֽי־הַיַּלְדוּת וְהַשַּׁחֲרוּת הָבֶל, “for youth and dawn are vapor.”… Learn Hebrew
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