Ecclesiastes 6:8

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.6.8", "source": "כִּ֛י מַה־יוֹתֵ֥ר לֶחָכָ֖ם מִֽן־הַכְּסִ֑יל מַה־לֶּעָנִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ לַהֲלֹ֖ךְ נֶ֥גֶד הַחַיִֽים׃", "text": "For what-*yôṯēr* to-the-*ḥāḵām* from-the-*hakkəsîl*? What-to-the-*leʿānî* *yôḏēaʿ* to-*lahălōḵ* *neḡeḏ* the-*haḥayyîm*?", "grammar": { "*yôṯēr*": "noun, masculine singular - advantage/profit", "*ḥāḵām*": "adjective, masculine singular - wise man", "*hakkəsîl*": "definite article + noun, masculine singular - the fool", "*leʿānî*": "preposition + definite article + adjective, masculine singular - to the poor", "*yôḏēaʿ*": "verb, Qal participle, masculine singular - knowing", "*lahălōḵ*": "preposition + verb, Qal infinitive construct - to walk", "*neḡeḏ*": "preposition - before/in front of", "*haḥayyîm*": "definite article + noun, masculine plural - the living/life" }, "variants": { "*yôṯēr*": "advantage/profit/benefit/surplus", "*ḥāḵām*": "wise man/sage", "*hakkəsîl*": "the fool/the stupid one", "*leʿānî*": "to the poor/to the afflicted/to the humble", "*yôḏēaʿ*": "knowing/understanding", "*lahălōḵ neḡeḏ haḥayyîm*": "to walk before the living/to conduct oneself in life" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֛י מַה־יוֹתֵ֥ר לֶחָכָ֖ם מִֽן־הַכְּסִ֑יל מַה־לֶּעָנִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ לַהֲלֹ֖ךְ נֶ֥גֶד הַחַיִֽים׃

Transliteration

For what-yôṯēr to-the-ḥāḵām from-the-hakkəsîl? What-to-the-leʿānî yôḏēaʿ to-lahălōḵ neḡeḏ the-haḥayyîm?

Grammar Details

• *yôṯēr*: noun, masculine singular - advantage/profit
• *ḥāḵām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise man
• *hakkəsîl*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the fool
• *leʿānî*: preposition + definite article + adjective, masculine singular - to the poor
• *yôḏēaʿ*: verb, Qal participle, masculine singular - knowing
• *lahălōḵ*: preposition + verb, Qal infinitive construct - to walk
• *neḡeḏ*: preposition - before/in front of
• *haḥayyîm*: definite article + noun, masculine plural - the living/life

Word Meanings

• *yôṯēr*: advantage/profit/benefit/surplus
• *ḥāḵām*: wise man/sage
• *hakkəsîl*: the fool/the stupid one
• *leʿānî*: to the poor/to the afflicted/to the humble
• *yôḏēaʿ*: knowing/understanding
• *lahălōḵ neḡeḏ haḥayyîm*: to walk before the living/to conduct oneself in life

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For what has the wise more than the fool? what does the poor have, who knows to walk before the living?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For what hath the wyse more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore, that he knoweth to walke before the lyuynge?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For what hath the wise more then the foole? What helpeth it the poore that he knoweth to walke with fooles before the lyuyng?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For what advantage `is' to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? `or' what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  What have the wise more than the foolish? and what has the poor man by walking wisely before the living?

• World English Bible (2000)

  For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

Referenced Verses

• Gen 17:1 : 1 { "verseID": "Genesis.17.1", "source": "וַיְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֨א יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲנִי־אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים׃", "text": "*wə-yhî* *ʾAḇrām* *ben*-*tišʿîm* *šānāh* *wə-tēšaʿ* *šānîm* *wa-yērāʾ* *YHWH* *ʾel*-*ʾAḇrām* *wa-yōʾmer* *ʾēlāyw* *ʾănî*-*ʾĒl* *Šadday* *hithalēḵ* *lə-p̄ānay* *we-hyēh* *tāmîm*", "grammar": { "*wə-yhî*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and it happened/came to pass", "*ʾAḇrām*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Abram", "*ben*": "construct state noun, masculine singular - son of", "*tišʿîm*": "cardinal number - ninety", "*šānāh*": "noun, feminine singular - year", "*wə-tēšaʿ*": "conjunction + cardinal number - and nine", "*šānîm*": "noun, feminine plural - years", "*wa-yērāʾ*": "conjunction + niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and appeared", "*YHWH*": "proper noun, divine name - Yahweh/LORD", "*ʾel*": "preposition - to/unto", "*wa-yōʾmer*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and said", "*ʾēlāyw*": "preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - to him", "*ʾănî*": "1st person singular pronoun - I", "*ʾĒl*": "noun, divine name - God/deity", "*Šadday*": "divine epithet - Almighty/All-sufficient", "*hithalēḵ*": "hithpael imperative masculine singular - walk yourself/continually walk", "*lə-p̄ānay*": "preposition + noun + 1st person singular suffix - before me/in my presence", "*we-hyēh*": "conjunction + qal imperative masculine singular - and be", "*tāmîm*": "adjective, masculine singular - complete/whole/blameless/perfect" }, "variants": { "*yhî*": "to be/happen/exist", "*ʾĒl Šadday*": "God Almighty/All-sufficient One/God of the mountain", "*hithalēḵ*": "walk habitually/walk back and forth/live one's life", "*tāmîm*": "complete/whole/blameless/perfect/having integrity" } }
• Ps 101:2 : 2 { "verseID": "Psalms.101.2", "source": "אַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה ׀ בְּדֶ֬רֶךְ תָּמִ֗ים מָ֭תַי תָּב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑י אֶתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּתָם־לְ֝בָבִ֗י בְּקֶ֣רֶב בֵּיתִֽי׃", "text": "I will *ʾaśkîlāh* in *derek* *tāmîm*. When will you *tābôʾ* to-me? I will *ʾethallēk* in *tōm*-*lēbāb*-my in *qereb* *bayit*-my.", "grammar": { "*ʾaśkîlāh*": "Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular with cohortative suffix - I will act wisely/give attention to", "*derek*": "masculine singular noun with prepositional prefix bə- (in/on) - way/path/manner", "*tāmîm*": "masculine singular adjective - perfect/complete/blameless", "*tābôʾ*": "Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - you will come", "*ʾethallēk*": "Hithpael imperfect 1st person singular - I will walk myself/conduct myself", "*tōm*": "masculine singular noun - integrity/completeness/innocence", "*lēbāb*": "masculine singular noun - heart/mind/inner being, connected to previous noun with maqqef", "*qereb*": "masculine singular noun with prepositional prefix bə- (in/within) - midst/inner part", "*bayit*": "masculine singular noun - house/household/dwelling, with 1st person singular possessive suffix" }, "variants": { "*ʾaśkîlāh*": "I will consider attentively/I will act wisely/I will contemplate", "*derek*": "way/path/journey/conduct", "*tāmîm*": "blameless/perfect/complete/with integrity", "*tābôʾ*": "you will come/you shall come/when will you come", "*ʾethallēk*": "I will walk about/I will conduct myself/I will behave", "*tōm*": "integrity/completeness/innocence/blamelessness", "*lēbāb*": "heart/mind/inner self/will", "*qereb*": "midst/among/within/inside", "*bayit*": "house/home/household/family/dwelling" } }
• Ps 116:9 : 9 { "verseID": "Psalms.116.9", "source": "אֶ֭תְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝אַרְצ֗וֹת הַֽחַיִּֽים׃", "text": "I *ʾethalēḵ* before *YHWH* in *ʾarṣôt* *ha-ḥayyîm*", "grammar": { "*ʾethalēḵ*": "verb, hithpael imperfect, 1st person singular - I will walk", "*li-pnê*": "preposition + noun, masculine plural construct - before/in presence of", "*YHWH*": "proper noun - divine name", "*be-ʾarṣôt*": "preposition + noun, feminine plural construct - in lands of", "*ha-ḥayyîm*": "article + noun, masculine plural - the living" }, "variants": { "*ʾethalēḵ*": "I will walk/I will go about/I will live", "*li-pnê*": "before/in presence of/in the face of", "*ʾarṣôt*": "lands/countries/regions", "*ha-ḥayyîm*": "the living/the alive/life" } }
• Prov 19:1 : 1 { "verseID": "Proverbs.19.1", "source": "טֽוֹב־רָ֭שׁ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֑וֹ מֵעִקֵּ֥שׁ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו וְה֣וּא כְסִֽיל׃", "text": "Better *rāš* *hōlēḵ* in *tūmm* his than *ʿiqqēš* *śəpātāyw* and he *kəsîl*.", "grammar": { "*rāš*": "adjective, masculine singular - poor", "*hōlēḵ*": "participle, qal active, masculine singular - walking/going", "*tūmm*": "noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person suffix - integrity/completeness", "*ʿiqqēš*": "adjective, masculine singular - crooked/perverse", "*śəpātāyw*": "noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his lips", "*kəsîl*": "noun, masculine singular - fool/stupid person" }, "variants": { "*rāš*": "poor person/poverty", "*hōlēḵ*": "one who walks/conducts himself", "*tūmm*": "integrity/innocence/completeness", "*ʿiqqēš*": "crooked/perverse/twisted", "*kəsîl*": "fool/stupid one/dull person" } }
• Eccl 2:14-16 : 14 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.14", "source": "הֶֽחָכָם֙ עֵינָ֣יו בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְהַכְּסִ֖יל בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ הוֹלֵ֑ךְ וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי גַם־אָ֔נִי שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃", "text": "The-*ḥākām* *ʿênāyw* in *rōʾshô* and the-*kĕsîl* in the-*ḥōshek* *hôlēk* and *yādaʿtî* also-I *shemmiqreh* *ʾeḥād* *yiqreh* *ʾet*-all of them.", "grammar": { "*ḥākām*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article - the wise person", "*ʿênāyw*": "dual noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his eyes", "*rōʾshô*": "masculine singular noun + preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - in his head", "*kĕsîl*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article - the fool", "*ḥōshek*": "masculine singular noun with definite article + preposition - in the darkness", "*hôlēk*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - walking/going", "*yādaʿtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I knew", "*shemmiqreh*": "relative particle + masculine singular noun - that the fate/event", "*ʾeḥād*": "numeral, masculine singular - one", "*yiqreh*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will happen/befall", "*ʾet-kullām*": "direct object marker + noun + 3rd masculine plural suffix - all of them" }, "variants": { "*ḥākām*": "wise person/sage", "*ʿênāyw bĕrōʾshô*": "his eyes are in his head (idiom: he sees clearly/pays attention)", "*kĕsîl*": "fool/stupid person", "*baḥōshek hôlēk*": "walks in darkness/goes about in darkness", "*miqreh*": "happening/event/fate/destiny", "*miqreh ʾeḥād yiqreh ʾet-kullām*": "one event/fate will happen to all of them" } } 15 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.15", "source": "וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי אֲנִ֜י בְּלִבִּ֗י כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה הַכְּסִיל֙ גַּם־אֲנִ֣י יִקְרֵ֔נִי וְלָ֧מָּה חָכַ֛מְתִּי אֲנִ֖י אָ֣ז יוֹתֵ֑ר וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔י שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃", "text": "And *ʾāmartî* I in *libbî* as *kĕmiqrēh* the-*kĕsîl* also-I *yiqrēnî* and why *ḥākamtî* I then *yôtēr* and *dibbartî* in *libbî* that also-this *hābel*.", "grammar": { "*ʾāmartî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I said", "*libbî*": "masculine singular noun + 1st person suffix + preposition - in my heart", "*kĕmiqrēh*": "preposition + masculine singular construct - as the fate of", "*kĕsîl*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article - the fool", "*yiqrēnî*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + 1st person suffix - will happen to me", "*ḥākamtî*": "perfect, 1st singular - I became wise", "*yôtēr*": "adverb - exceedingly/more", "*dibbartî*": "Piel perfect, 1st singular - I spoke", "*hābel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity" }, "variants": { "*ʾāmartî bĕlibbî*": "I said in my heart/I thought to myself", "*kĕmiqrēh hakkĕsîl*": "as the fate/event of the fool", "*yiqrēnî*": "will happen to me/will befall me", "*ḥākamtî*": "I became wise/I have been wise", "*yôtēr*": "more/exceedingly/greatly", "*dibbartî bĕlibbî*": "I said in my heart/concluded within myself", "*hābel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness" } } 16 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.16", "source": "כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין זִכְר֧וֹן לֶחָכָ֛ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙ הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁכָּ֔ח וְאֵ֛יךְ יָמ֥וּת הֶחָכָ֖ם עִֽם־הַכְּסִֽיל׃", "text": "Because not *zikrôn* to *ḥākām* with-the-*kĕsîl* to *ʿôlām*; in that already the-*yāmîm* the-*bāʾîm* the-all *nishkāḥ* and how *yāmût* the-*ḥākām* with-the-*kĕsîl*.", "grammar": { "*zikrôn*": "masculine singular noun - remembrance/memory", "*ḥākām*": "masculine singular adjective with prefixed preposition - for the wise person", "*kĕsîl*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article and prefixed preposition - with the fool", "*ʿôlām*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - forever", "*yāmîm*": "masculine plural noun with definite article - the days", "*bāʾîm*": "Qal participle, masculine plural with definite article - the coming ones", "*nishkāḥ*": "Niphal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - is forgotten", "*yāmût*": "imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will die", "*ḥākām*": "masculine singular adjective with definite article - the wise person" }, "variants": { "*zikrôn*": "remembrance/memory/memorial", "*ʿôlām*": "forever/eternity/long duration", "*bĕshekĕbār*": "because already/since already", "*hayyāmîm habbāʾîm*": "the days to come/the coming days/future days", "*hakkōl nishkāḥ*": "everything is forgotten/all is forgotten", "*yāmût heḥākām ʿim-hakkĕsîl*": "the wise person dies with/like the fool" } }
• Eccl 5:11 : 11 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.5.11", "source": "מְתוּקָה֙ שְׁנַ֣ת הָעֹבֵ֔ד אִם־מְעַ֥ט וְאִם־הַרְבֵּ֖ה יֹאכֵ֑ל וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ מַנִּ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ לִישֽׁוֹן׃", "text": "*məṯûqāh* *šənaṯ* *hāʿōḇēḏ* if *məʿaṭ* and if *harbēh* *yōʾḵēl*, and *haśśāḇāʿ* to *leʿāšîr* not it *mannîaḥ* to him *lîšôn*", "grammar": { "*məṯûqāh*": "adjective, feminine singular - sweet", "*šənaṯ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - sleep of", "*hāʿōḇēḏ*": "definite article + qal participle, masculine singular - the worker/laborer", "*məʿaṭ*": "adjective, masculine singular - little/few", "*harbēh*": "verb (hiphil infinitive absolute used as adverb) - much/many", "*yōʾḵēl*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he eats", "*haśśāḇāʿ*": "definite article + noun, masculine singular - the abundance/fullness", "*leʿāšîr*": "preposition + adjective, masculine singular - to the rich", "*mannîaḥ*": "hiphil participle, masculine singular - causing/allowing", "*lîšôn*": "qal infinitive construct - to sleep" }, "variants": { "*məṯûqāh*": "sweet/pleasant/agreeable", "*šənaṯ*": "sleep/slumber of", "*hāʿōḇēḏ*": "the worker/laborer/servant", "*haśśāḇāʿ*": "the abundance/fullness/satisfaction/satiety", "*mannîaḥ*": "causing/allowing/permitting/leaving" } }
• Luke 1:6 : 6 { "verseID": "Luke.1.6", "source": "Ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ Κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι.", "text": "*Ēsan de dikaioi amphoteroi enōpion tou Theou, poreuomenoi en pasais tais entolais kai dikaiōmasin tou Kyriou amemptoi*.", "grammar": { "*Ēsan*": "imperfect, indicative, active, 3rd person plural - they were", "*de*": "particle - and, but, now", "*dikaioi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - righteous", "*amphoteroi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - both", "*enōpion*": "preposition + genitive - before, in the presence of", "*tou Theou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of God", "*poreuomenoi*": "present, middle, participle, nominative, masculine, plural - walking, proceeding", "*en pasais*": "preposition + dative, feminine, plural - in all", "*tais entolais*": "dative, feminine, plural - the commandments", "*kai*": "conjunction - and", "*dikaiōmasin*": "dative, neuter, plural - ordinances, righteous requirements", "*tou Kyriou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of the Lord", "*amemptoi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - blameless" }, "variants": { "*dikaioi*": "righteous/just/upright", "*poreuomenoi*": "walking/proceeding/living", "*entolais*": "commandments/precepts/instructions", "*dikaiōmasin*": "ordinances/righteous requirements/regulations", "*amemptoi*": "blameless/faultless/without reproach" } }
• 1 Tim 6:17 : 17 { "verseID": "1 Timothy.6.17", "source": "Τοῖς πλουσίοις ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι παράγγελλε, μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν, μηδὲ ἠλπικέναι ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῷ Θεῷ, τῷ ζῶντι τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πλουσίως πάντα εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν·", "text": "To the *plousiois* in the now *aiōni paraggelle*, not to *hypsēlophronein*, neither to have *ēlpikenai* upon *ploutou adēlotēti*, but in the *Theō*, the *zōnti* the one *parechonti* us *plousiōs panta* for *apolausin*;", "grammar": { "*Tois plousiois*": "dative, masculine, plural with article - to the rich", "*en*": "preposition - in", "*tō nyn aiōni*": "dative, masculine, singular with article and adverb - the present age", "*paraggelle*": "present imperative, 2nd person singular, active - command/charge", "*mē*": "negative particle - not", "*hypsēlophronein*": "present infinitive, active - to be high-minded/proud", "*mēde*": "conjunction, negative - neither/nor", "*ēlpikenai*": "perfect infinitive, active - to have hoped/trusted", "*epi*": "preposition - upon/in", "*ploutou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of wealth/riches", "*adēlotēti*": "dative, feminine, singular - uncertainty/instability", "*all'*": "conjunction, adversative - but", "*en*": "preposition - in", "*tō Theō*": "dative, masculine, singular with article - God", "*tō zōnti*": "present participle, dative, masculine, singular, active with article - the living one", "*tō parechonti*": "present participle, dative, masculine, singular, active with article - the one providing", "*hēmin*": "personal pronoun, dative, 1st person plural - to us", "*plousiōs*": "adverb - richly/abundantly", "*panta*": "accusative, neuter, plural - all things", "*eis*": "preposition - for/unto", "*apolausin*": "accusative, feminine, singular - enjoyment" }, "variants": { "*plousiois*": "rich/wealthy/affluent", "*aiōni*": "age/era/world/lifetime", "*paraggelle*": "command/charge/instruct/order", "*hypsēlophronein*": "be high-minded/proud/arrogant/conceited", "*ēlpikenai*": "hope/trust/expect", "*ploutou*": "wealth/riches/abundance", "*adēlotēti*": "uncertainty/instability/unpredictability", "*zōnti*": "living/alive", "*parechonti*": "providing/furnishing/supplying", "*plousiōs*": "richly/abundantly/generously", "*apolausin*": "enjoyment/pleasure/benefit" } }