Ecclesiastes 4:8
NASB Lexicon
NASB ©HebrewStrong'sOrigin
Thereיֵ֣שׁ
(yesh)
3426: being, substance, existence, isof uncertain derivation
was a certain manאֶחָד֩
(e·chad)
259: onea prim. card. number
withoutוְאֵ֨ין
(ve·'ein)
369: nothing, noughta prim. root
a dependent,שֵׁנִ֜י
(she·ni)
8145: second (an ord. number)from shanah
havingאֵֽין־
(ein-)
369: nothing, noughta prim. root
neitherגַּ֣ם
(gam)
1571: also, moreover, yeafrom an unused word
a sonבֵּ֧ן
(ben)
1121: sona prim. root
nor 
 
369: nothing, noughta prim. root
a brother,וָאָ֣ח
(va·'ach)
251: a brotherfrom an unused word
yet there was no 
 
369: nothing, noughta prim. root
endקֵץ֙
(ketz)
7093: endfrom qatsats
to allלְכָל־
(le·chol-)
3605: the whole, allfrom kalal
his labor.עֲמָלֹ֔ו
(a·ma·lov,)
5999: trouble, labor, toilfrom amal
Indeed,גַּם־
(gam-)
1571: also, moreover, yeafrom an unused word
his eyes(עֵינֹ֖ו
(ei·nov)
5869: an eyeof uncertain derivation
were not satisfiedתִשְׂבַּ֣ע
(tis·ba)
7646: to be sated, satisfied or surfeiteda prim. root
with richesעֹ֑שֶׁר
(o·sher;)
6239: richesfrom ashar
[and he never asked], "And for whomוּלְמִ֣י
(u·le·mi)
4310: who?a prim. pronoun
am I laboringעָמֵ֗ל
(a·mel)
6001b: toilingfrom amal
and deprivingוּמְחַסֵּ֤ר
(u·me·chas·ser)
2637: to lack, need, be lacking, decreasea prim. root
myselfנַפְשִׁי֙
(naf·shi)
5315: a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion from an unused word
of pleasure?" 
 
2899b: welfare, benefit, good things, goodfrom tob
Thisזֶ֥ה
(zeh)
2088: this, herea prim. pronoun
tooגַּם־
(gam-)
1571: also, moreover, yeafrom an unused word
is vanityהֶ֛בֶל
(he·vel)
1892: vapor, breatha prim. root
and it is a grievousרָ֖ע
(ra)
7451a: bad, evilfrom the same as roa
task.וְעִנְיַ֥ן
(ve·'in·yan)
6045: occupation, taskfrom anah


















KJV Lexicon
There is
yesh  (yaysh)
entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb; there is or are
one
'echad  (ekh-awd')
united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
alone and there is not a second
sheniy  (shay-nee')
double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again -- again, either (of them), (an-)other, second (time).
yea he hath neither child
ben  (bane)
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc.
nor brother
'ach  (awkh)
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like 1) -- another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
yet is there no end
qets  (kates)
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after -- + after, (utmost) border, end, (in-)finite, process.
of all his labour
`amal  (aw-mawl')
toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
neither is his eye
`ayin  (ah'-yin)
an eye; by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
satisfied
saba`  (saw-bah')
to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction -- have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
with riches
`osher  (o'-sher)
wealth -- far (richer), riches.
neither saith he For whom do I labour
`amel  (aw-male')
toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful -- that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman.
and bereave
chacer  (khaw-sare')
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen -- be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want.
my soul
nephesh  (neh'-fesh)
a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
of good
towb  (tobe)
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun
This is also vanity
hebel  (heh'bel)
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- altogether, vain, vanity.
yea it is a sore
ra`  (rah)
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
travail
`inyan  (in-yawn')
ado, i.e. (generally) employment or (specifically) an affair -- business, travail.
Parallel Verses
New American Standard Bible
There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

King James Bible
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "So who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself from good?" This too is futile and a miserable task.

International Standard Version
Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

NET Bible
A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There are people who are all alone. They have no children or other family members. So there is no end to all the hard work they have to do. Their eyes are never satisfied with riches. But [they never ask themselves] why they are working so hard and depriving themselves of good things. Even this is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

King James 2000 Bible
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a heavy travail.
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