Ecclesiastes 7:8

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב אַחֲרִית דָּבָר מֵרֵאשִׁיתוֹ טוֹב אֶרֶךְ־רוּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רוּחַ

Transliteration

Ṭôḇ ʾaḥărîṯ dāḇār from-rēʾšîṯô ṭôḇ ʾereḵ-rûaḥ from-gəḇahh-rûaḥ

Grammar Details

*Ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/better
*ʾaḥărîṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - end of
*dāḇār*: noun, masculine singular - matter/thing
*rēʾšîṯô*: noun, feminine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - its beginning
*ʾereḵ*: adjective, masculine singular construct - long/patient
*rûaḥ*: noun, feminine singular - spirit
*gəḇahh*: adjective, masculine singular construct - high/proud

Word Meanings

*Ṭôḇ*: better/more valuable
*ʾaḥărîṯ* *dāḇār*: end of a matter/conclusion of something
*rēʾšîṯô*: its beginning/its commencement
*ʾereḵ*-*rûaḥ*: patience of spirit/long-suffering temperament
*gəḇahh*-*rûaḥ*: proud of spirit/haughty mindset

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 14:29 : 29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Heb 10:36 : 36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.
Jas 5:8 : 8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
1 Pet 1:13 : 13 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Luke 21:19 : 19 In your patience ye shall win your souls.
Rom 2:7-8 : 7 to them that by patience in {G18} well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: 8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation,
Prov 16:32 : 32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
Prov 28:25 : 25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
Isa 10:24-25 : 24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation [against thee] shall be accomplished, and mine anger [shall be directed] to his destruction.
Isa 10:28-34 : 28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron; at Michmash he layeth up his baggage; 29 they are gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul is fled. 30 Cry aloud with thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken, O Laishah! O thou poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah is a fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. 32 This very day shall he halt at Nob: he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 33 Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop the boughs with terror: and the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low. 34 And he will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
Luke 16:25 : 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.
Prov 15:18 : 18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Ps 126:5-6 : 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves [with him].
Prov 13:10 : 10 By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
Gal 5:22 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Eph 4:2 : 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
1 Pet 2:20-21 : 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For {G1519} hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Pet 5:5-6 : 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
Jas 5:11 : 11 Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 7:9-11
3 verses
77%
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
Prov 14:29
73%
29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Eccl 7:1-5
5 verses
73%
1A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Prov 16:32
72%
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
Prov 16:18-19
2 verses
72%
18Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Eccl 7:13-15
3 verses
70%
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
15All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.
Eccl 4:6
69%
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
Eccl 7:7
69%
7Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
Eccl 6:9
69%
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 4:3
68%
3yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Prov 19:1
68%
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Prov 15:16
68%
16Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Prov 16:8
68%
8Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
Prov 20:21
67%
21An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Jas 5:11
67%
11Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.
Job 8:7
67%
7And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
Prov 17:27
67%
27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Prov 14:13
67%
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
Eccl 10:13
66%
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Prov 18:14
66%
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
Eccl 4:16
66%
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ps 37:7-8
2 verses
66%
7Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, [it tendeth] only to evil-doing.
Eccl 4:13
66%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Prov 25:7-8
2 verses
66%
7For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
Jas 1:3-4
2 verses
66%
3Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
4And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
Ps 118:8
66%
8It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.
Prov 14:17
66%
17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
1 Pet 4:7
66%
7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer:
Prov 28:6
66%
6Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in [his] ways, though he be rich.
Prov 19:20
66%
20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Ps 37:16
66%
16Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.
Prov 18:12
65%
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.
Prov 13:10
65%
10By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
Eccl 9:17
65%
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Prov 17:1
65%
1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
Prov 17:22
65%
22A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Eccl 10:4
65%
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
Eccl 7:18
65%
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.