Ecclesiastes 4:2
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And I praised the dead rather than the living:

Ecclesiastes 2:17 And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a living dog is better than a dead lion. . . .

Job 3:17-21 There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in strength are at rest. . . .

Context
The Evil of Oppression
1I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any. 2And I praised the dead rather than the living:3And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.…
Cross References
Job 3:11
Why did I not die in the womb? why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?

Ecclesiastes 2:17
And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Jeremiah 22:10
Weep not for him that is dead, nor bemoan him with your tears: lament him that goeth away, for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

Lexicon
So I
אֲנִ֛י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 589: I

admired
וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ (wə·šab·bê·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's Hebrew 7623: To address in a, loud tone, loud, to pacify

the dead,
הַמֵּתִ֖ים (ham·mê·ṯîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 4191: To die, to kill

who had already
שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר (šek·kə·ḇār)
Pronoun - relative | Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 3528: Extent of time, a great while, long ago, formerly, hitherto

died,
מֵ֑תוּ (mê·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's Hebrew 4191: To die, to kill

above
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew 4480: A part of, from, out of

the living,
הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים (ha·ḥay·yîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

who
אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's Hebrew 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

are still
עֲדֶֽנָה׃ (‘ă·ḏe·nāh)
Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5728: Hitherto, still

alive.
חַיִּ֖ים (ḥay·yîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life


Additional Translations
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;

Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
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Alphabetical: alive already And are congratulated dead declared died had happier I living more So still than that the who

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 4:2 Therefore I praised the dead who have (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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