Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes 6:1

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

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Biblical Hebrew
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 recurring formula in Qohelet’s discourse is not merely observational—it functions as a philosophical signal, preparing the reader for a reflection on the absurdity or futility of life.… Learn Hebrew
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The Use of Existential יֵשׁ and the Construct Chain in Ecclesiastes 6:1

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Biblical Hebrew
Introduction to Ecclesiastes 6:1 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 אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי, “an evil which I have seen”) to describe a phenomenon occurring תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ (taḥat hashemesh, “under the sun”), a phrase that is characteristic of the book’s reflections on human experience. Understanding these grammatical elements is essential for interpreting the verse’s meaning. יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְרַבָּ֥ה הִ֖יא עַל־הָאָדָֽם׃ Analysis of Key Words/Phrases 1.… Learn Hebrew
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