Ecclesiastes 4 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 4:17
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Chapter 4
Hebrew source [BHS4] • Greek source [LXX4]
Oppression, companionship and succession (4:1–17)
Verse 4:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:1] Again I turned and saw all the oppressions committed beneath the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them! Power was in their oppressors' hands, and they had no one to comfort them.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:1] Again I turned and saw all the extortions committed beneath the sun. Look, the tears of those being extorted, with no one to comfort them! Power was in their extorters' hands, and they had no one to comfort them.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek sykophantia may denote extortion, malicious accusation or oppression; extortion preserves a more specific shade of the word. The repeated absence of a comforter agrees.
Verse 4:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:2] I praised the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:2] I praised the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are alive until now.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both retain the narrator's severe comparison in response to oppression.
Verse 4:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:3] Better than both is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil work done beneath the sun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:3] Better than these two is the one who has not yet come to be, who has not seen the evil work done beneath the sun.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The comparison concerns not witnessing the evil; no additional metaphysical account of unborn persons is supplied.
Verse 4:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:4] I saw all toil and all skill in work: it is a person's rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vapor and pursuit of wind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:4] I saw all toil and all courage in work: it is a person's rivalry with his companion. This too is futility and resolve of spirit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew skill becomes Greek courage, as at 2:21. Rivalry renders the envy or jealousy relation without forcing its direction beyond the sentence.
Verse 4:5 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:5] The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:5] The fool folded his hands and ate his own flesh.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek narrates with past verbs; the self-consuming image remains literal in wording, with its figurative application left to interpretation.
Verse 4:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:6] Better a handful of quiet than two handfuls of toil and pursuit of wind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:6] Better a handful of rest than two handfuls of toil and resolve of spirit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The central contrast agrees; the final Hebrew–Greek phrase remains distinct.
Verse 4:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:7] Again I turned and saw vapor beneath the sun.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:7] Again I turned and saw futility beneath the sun.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The recurring keynote words retain their different images.
Verse 4:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:8] There is one person with no second, with neither son nor brother. There is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are not satisfied with wealth. For whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of good? This too is vapor and a grievous occupation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:8] There is one person with no second, with neither son nor brother. There is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not filled with wealth. For whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of goodness? This too is futility and a grievous distraction.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The shift from third-person description to first-person question remains. Hebrew eyes and Greek eye differ in number; the occupation–distraction distinction returns.
Verse 4:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The value of companionship is stated without limiting it to marriage.
Verse 4:10 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:10] For if they fall, one will lift his companion. But woe to the one who falls with no second person to lift him!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:10] For if they fall, one will lift his partner. But woe to the one who falls with no second person to lift him!
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The mutual assistance agrees.
Verse 4:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:11] Also, if two lie down, they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:11] Also, if two lie down, they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The practical image agrees.
Verse 4:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:12] If someone overpowers the one, the two can stand against him; a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:12] If the one gains strength, the two will stand against him; a threefold cord is not quickly torn apart.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The Greek passive verb means being strengthened, not being overpowered; the two then stand against the one who gains strength. Hebrew speaks of someone overpowering the one. The cord conclusion agrees, and no unexpressed identity is assigned to its third strand. Lexical check [LSJ412]: LSJ defines epikrataioo as adding strength or confirming and cites this verse for its passive use.
Verse 4:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:13] Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to heed warning.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:13] Better a poor and wise youth than an older and foolish king who no longer knows how to pay attention,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The contrast of teachable wisdom and royal folly agrees.
Verse 4:14 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:14] For he came from prison to reign, though he was born poor in his kingdom.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:14] for he will come from the prisoners' house to reign, though he was born poor in his kingdom.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek uses a future release. The pronouns leave the relation between the youth and the king compressed; no named ruler is inserted.
Verse 4:15 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:15] I saw all the living who walk beneath the sun with the second youth who was to stand in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:15] I saw all the living who walk beneath the sun with the second young man who will stand in his place,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The second youth and succession remain without a supplied historical identification.
Verse 4:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:16] There was no end to all the people, all those before whom he stood; yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is vapor and pursuit of wind.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:16] there was no end to all the people, all who came before them; yet those who come last will not rejoice in him. This too is futility and resolve of spirit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's compressed phrase is taken as the people he led; Greek explicitly speaks of those who came before them. The temporary popularity and concluding distinction remain.
Verse 4:17 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[4:17] Guard your steps when you go to God's house. Draw near to listen rather than give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[4:17] Guard your foot when you go to God's house, and be near to listen. Your sacrifice is better than the fools' gift, for they do not know how to do evil.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Both editions number this 4:17, common English 5:1. Greek separates your sacrifice from the fools' gift; Hebrew contrasts listening with fools' sacrifice. The final Greek infinitive is rendered how to do evil, while Hebrew is interpreted as failure to recognize evil. The awkwardness and alternatives remain a specialist question, not a silently harmonized maxim.