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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 6:8 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ec 6:8 |
Strong Concordance |
For what hath the wise [02450] more [03148] than the fool [03684]? what hath the poor [06041], that knoweth [03045] to walk [01980] before the living [02416]? |
|
King James |
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
For--"However" [MAURER]. The "for" means (in contrast to the insatiability of the miser), For what else is the advantage which the wise man hath above the fool?"
What--advantage, that is, superiority, above him who knows not how to walk uprightly
hath the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?--that is, to use and enjoy life aright (Ecc 5:18-19), a cheerful, thankful, godly "walk" (Psa 116:9). |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
"For what hath the wise more than the fool; what the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?" The old translators present nothing for the interpretation, but defend the traditional text; for Jerome, like the Syr., which translates freely, follows the Midrash (fixed in the Targ.), which understands החיים, contrary to the spirit of the book, of the blessed future. The question would be easier if we could, with Bernst. and Ginsburg, introduce a comparat. min before יודע; we would then require to understand by him who knows to walk before the living, some one who acts a part in public life; but how strange a designation of distinguished persons would that be! Thus, as the text stands, יודע ,sdnat is attrib. to לעני, what preference hath the poor, such an one, viz., as understands (vid., regarding יודע instead of היודע, under Psa 143:10); not: who is intelligent (Aben Ezra); יודע is not, as at Ecc 9:11, an idea contained in itself, but by the foll. הח ... לה (cf. Ecc 4:13, Ecc 4:14; and the inf. form, Exo 3:19; Num 22:13; Job 34:23) obtains the supplement and colouring required: the sequence of the accents (Zakeph, Tifcha, Silluk, as e.g., at Gen 7:4) is not against this. How the lxx understood its πορευθῆναι κατέναντι τῆς ζωῆς, and the Venet. it's ἀπιέναι ἀντικρὺ τῆς ζωῆς, is not clear; scarcely as Grtz, with Mendelss.: who, to go against (נגד, as at Ecc 4:12) life, to fight against it, has to exercise himself in self-denial and patience; for "to fight with life" is an expression of modern coinage. הח signifies here, without doubt, not life, but the living. But we explain now, not as Ewald, who separates יודע from the foll. inf. להלך: What profit has then the wise man, the intelligent, patient man, above the fool, that he walks before the living? - by which is meant (but how does this interrog. form agree thereto?), that the wise, patient man has thereby an advantage which makes life endurable by him, in this, that he does not suffer destroying eagerness of desire so to rule over him, but is satisfied to live in quietness.Also this meaning of a quiet life does not lie in the words הח ... הלך. "To know to walk before the living" is, as is now generally acknowledged = to understand the right rule of life (Elst.), to possess the savoir vivre (Heiligst.), to be experienced in the right art of living. the question accordingly is: What advantage has the wise above the fool; and what the poor, who, although poor, yet knows how to maintain his social position? The matter treated of is the insatiable nature of sensual desire. The wise seeks to control his desire; and he who is more closely designated poor, knows how to conceal it; for he lays upon himself restraints, that he may be able to appear and make something of himself. But desire is present in both; and they have in this nothing above the fool, who follows the bent of his desire and lives for the day. He is a fool because he acts as one not free, and without consideration; but, in itself, it is and remains true, that enjoyment and satisfaction stand higher than striving and longing for a thing. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
More - In these matters. Both are subject to the same calamities, and partakers of the same comforts of this life. The poor - More than the poor that doth not know this. He means such a poor man as is ingenious and industrious; fit for service and business. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For what hath the wise more than the fool? - They must both labor for the same end. Both depend upon the labor of themselves or others for the necessaries of life. Both must eat and drink in order to live; and the rich man can no more eat two meals at a time, than he can comfortably wear two changes of raiment. The necessaries of life are the same to both, and their condition in life is nearly similar; liable to the same diseases, dissolution, and death. |
9 I will walk [01980] before [06440] the LORD [03068] in the land [0776] of the living [02416].
18 Behold that which I have seen [07200]: it is good [02896] and comely [03303] for one to eat [0398] and to drink [08354], and to enjoy [07200] the good [02896] of all his labour [05999] that he taketh [05998] under the sun [08121] all [04557] the days [03117] of his life [02416], which God [0430] giveth [05414] him: for it is his portion [02506].
19 Every man [0120] also to whom God [0430] hath given [05414] riches [06239] and wealth [05233], and hath given him power [07980] to eat [0398] thereof, and to take [05375] his portion [02506], and to rejoice [08055] in his labour [05999]; this [02090] is the gift [04991] of God [0430].
12 And if one [0259] prevail [08630] against him, two [08147] shall withstand [05975] him; and a threefold [08027] cord [02339] is not quickly [04120] broken [05423].
4 For yet [05750] seven [07651] days [03117], and I will cause it to rain [04305] upon the earth [0776] forty [0705] days [03117] and forty [0705] nights [03915]; and every [03605] living substance [03351] that I have made [06213] will I destroy [04229] from off [05921] the face [06440] of the earth [0127].
23 For he will not lay [07760] upon man [0376] more than right; that he should enter [01980] into judgment [04941] with God [0410].
13 And Balaam [01109] rose up [06965] in the morning [01242], and said [0559] unto the princes [08269] of Balak [01111], Get [03212] you into your land [0776]: for the LORD [03068] refuseth [03985] to give me leave [05414] to go [01980] with you.
19 And I am sure [03045] that the king [04428] of Egypt [04714] will not let [05414] you go [01980], no, not by a mighty [02389] hand [03027].
14 For out of prison [0631] [01004] he cometh [03318] to reign [04427]; whereas also he that is born [03205] in his kingdom [04438] becometh poor [07326].
13 Better [02896] is a poor [04542] and a wise [02450] child [03206] than an old [02205] and foolish [03684] king [04428], who will [03045] no more be admonished [02094].
11 I returned [07725], and saw [07200] under the sun [08121], that the race [04793] is not to the swift [07031], nor the battle [04421] to the strong [01368], neither yet bread [03899] to the wise [02450], nor yet riches [06239] to men of understanding [0995], nor yet favour [02580] to men of skill [03045]; but time [06256] and chance [06294] happeneth [07136] to them all.
10 Teach [03925] me to do [06213] thy will [07522]; for thou art my God [0430]: thy spirit [07307] is good [02896]; lead [05148] me into the land [0776] of uprightness [04334].