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Ecclesiastes 4:16

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Ecclesiastes 4:16

Verse 16 of 16

Scripture focus

[There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 4:16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:16

Theological / Devotional

No end. A continued description of the enthusiasm of the crowds mentioned in v. 15. This is borne out by the Hebrew of the following phrase, which is better understood as meaning, “even all of them over whom he was ruler.”

Before them. Literally, “all them in front of whom he was,” meaning, “over whom he ruled.” The Hebrew speaks of “going before” in the sense of leadership (1 Sam. 18:16; 2 Chron. 1:10).

Not rejoice in him. Public acclaim today may become public denunciation tomorrow. Joseph in Egypt illustrates the fickleness of the world’s regard (Ex. 1:8).

By SdaBc