Ecclesiastes 4:13

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

ט֛וֹב יֶ֥לֶד מִסְכֵּ֖ן וְחָכָ֑ם מִמֶּ֤לֶךְ זָקֵן֙ וּכְסִ֔יל אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יָדַ֥ע לְהִזָּהֵ֖ר עֽוֹד׃

Transliteration

ṭôḇ yeled miskēn and-ḥāḵām from-meleḵ zāqēn and-kəsîl who not-yādaʿ to-hizzāhēr ʿôd

Grammar Details

• *ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - better/good
• *yeled*: noun, masculine singular - child/boy/youth
• *miskēn*: adjective, masculine singular - poor
• *ḥāḵām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise
• *meleḵ*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *zāqēn*: adjective, masculine singular - old
• *kəsîl*: adjective, masculine singular - foolish
• *yādaʿ*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he knew
• *hizzāhēr*: Niphal infinitive construct - to be warned/admonished
• *ʿôd*: adverb - still/yet/anymore

Word Meanings

• *yeled*: child/boy/youth/young man
• *miskēn*: poor/lowly/disadvantaged
• *ḥāḵām*: wise/skillful/clever
• *kəsîl*: foolish/stubborn/lacking wisdom
• *yādaʿ lə-hizzāhēr*: knew to be warned/was able to receive instruction
• *ʿôd*: still/anymore/any longer

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 9:15-16 : 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
• Gen 37:2 : 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
• 1 Kgs 22:8 : 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
• 2 Chr 16:9-9 : 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
• 2 Chr 24:20-22 : 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
• 2 Chr 25:16 : 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
• Prov 19:1 : 1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
• Prov 28:6 : 6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
• Prov 28:15-16 : 15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.