Ecclesiastes 4:4
NASB Lexicon
NASB ©HebrewStrong'sOrigin
I have seenוְרָאִ֨יתִֽי
(ve·ra·'i·ti)
7200: to seea prim. root
that everyכָּל־
(kol-)
3605: the whole, allfrom kalal
laborעָמָ֗ל
(a·mal)
5999: trouble, labor, toilfrom amal
and everyכָּל־
(kol-)
3605: the whole, allfrom kalal
skillכִּשְׁרֹ֣ון
(kish·ro·vn)
3788: skill, successfrom kasher
which is doneהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה
(ham·ma·'a·seh,)
4639: a deed, workfrom asah
is [the result of] rivalryקִנְאַת־
(kin·'at-)
7068: ardor, zeal, jealousyfrom an unused word
between a manאִ֖ישׁ
(ish)
376: manfrom an unused word
and his neighbor.מֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ
(me·re·'e·hu;)
7453: friend, companion, fellowfrom raah
Thisזֶ֥ה
(zeh)
2088: this, herea prim. pronoun
tooגַּם־
(gam-)
1571: also, moreover, yeafrom an unused word
is vanityהֶ֖בֶל
(he·vel)
1892: vapor, breatha prim. root
and strivingוּרְע֥וּת
(u·re·'ut)
7469: longing, strivingfrom the same as rea
after wind.רֽוּחַ׃
(ru·ach.)
7307: breath, wind, spiritfrom an unused word


















KJV Lexicon
Again I considered
ra'ah  (raw-aw')
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)surely, think, view, visions.
all travail
`amal  (aw-mawl')
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
and every right
kishrown  (kish-rone')
success, advantage -- equity, good, right.
work
ma`aseh  (mah-as-eh')
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
that for this a man
'iysh  (eesh)
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
is envied
qin'ah  (kin-aw')
jealousy or envy -- envy(-ied), jealousy, sake, zeal.
of his neighbour
rea`  (ray'-ah)
an associate (more or less close) -- brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, (an-)other.
This is also vanity
hebel  (heh'bel)
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- altogether, vain, vanity.
and vexation
r`uwth  (reh-ooth')
a feeding upon, i.e. grasping after -- vexation.
of spirit
ruwach  (roo'-akh)
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being
Parallel Verses
New American Standard Bible
I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

King James Bible
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man's jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

International Standard Version
Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

NET Bible
Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless--like chasing the wind.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. [It's like] trying to catch the wind.

King James 2000 Bible
Again, I considered all toil, and every skillful work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and grasping after the wind.
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Ecclesiastes 4:4
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