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Ecclesiastes
Chapter 4
Verse 4

Ecclesiastes 4:5

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

American Standard Version (1901)

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Bible in Basic English

The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

Free Bible Version

Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.

King James (Authorized) Version

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Translation for Translators

Foolish people refuse to work; they sit idly, with their hands folded, and do not work. So they ruin themselves.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.

Noah Webster Bible

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

World English Bible

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

Young's Literal Translation

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

Context

The Evil of Oppression

⁴I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ⁵The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. ⁶Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Summary

This verse in Ecclesiastes highlights the futility of a workaholic lifestyle, where one's labor is driven by envy and competition. It portrays the emptiness of such toil, emphasizing that it is ultimately meaningless and unsatisfying. The pursuit of success solely for the sake of outdoing others is depicted as a chasing after the wind, devoid of true fulfillment. Instead, the verse encourages contentment, cooperation, and a balanced approach to work, recognizing that genuine satisfaction comes from relationships and a healthy perspective on labor.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

There ought certainly to be activity according to our calling; indolence is self-destruction: "The fool foldeth his hands, and eateth his own flesh." He layeth his hands together (Prov 6:10-24:33), - placeth them in his bosom, instead of using them in working, - and thereby he eateth himself up, i.e., bringeth ruin upon himself (Psa 27:2; Mic 3:3; Isa 49:26); for instead of nourishing himself by the labour of his hands, he feeds on his own flesh, and thus wasteth away. The emphasis does not lie on the subject (the fool, and only the fool), but on the pred.

Ecclesiastes 4:5

The Evil of Oppression

⁴I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. ⁵The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. ⁶Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

American Standard Version (1901)

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Bible in Basic English

The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.

Free Bible Version

Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.

King James (Authorized) Version

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Translation for Translators

Foolish people refuse to work; they sit idly, with their hands folded, and do not work. So they ruin themselves.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.

Noah Webster Bible

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

World English Bible

The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

Young's Literal Translation

The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

There ought certainly to be activity according to our calling; indolence is self-destruction: "The fool foldeth his hands, and eateth his own flesh." He layeth his hands together (Prov 6:10-24:33), - placeth them in his bosom, instead of using them in working, - and thereby he eateth himself up, i.e., bringeth ruin upon himself (Psa 27:2; Mic 3:3; Isa 49:26); for instead of nourishing himself by the labour of his hands, he feeds on his own flesh, and thus wasteth away. The emphasis does not lie on the subject (the fool, and only the fool), but on the pred.