The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 4:1 Explained

Ecclesiastes 4:1

KJV: So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

YLT: And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.

Darby: And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.

ASV: Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So I returned,  and considered  all the oppressions  that are done  under the sun:  and behold the tears  of [such as were] oppressed,  and they had no comforter;  and on the side  of their oppressors  [there was] power;  but they had no comforter. 

What does Ecclesiastes 4:1 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 4

1  vanity is increased unto men by oppression
4  by envy
5  by idleness
7  by covetousness
9  by solitariness
13  by willfulness

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 4:1 mean?

And returned I and considered - all the oppression that is done under the sun And look the tears of the oppressed but no they have comforter and On the side of their oppressors [there is] power they have comforter
וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי אֲנִ֗י וָאֶרְאֶה֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשִׂ֖ים תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ דִּמְעַ֣ת הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים וְאֵ֤ין לָהֶם֙ מְנַחֵ֔ם וּמִיַּ֤ד עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙ כֹּ֔חַ לָהֶ֖ם מְנַחֵֽם

וְשַׁ֣בְתִּֽי  And  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וָאֶרְאֶה֙  and  considered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָ֣עֲשֻׁקִ֔ים  the  oppression 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: עֲשׁוּקִים  
Sense: oppression, extortion.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נַעֲשִׂ֖ים  is  done 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
תַּ֣חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀  And  look 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
דִּמְעַ֣ת  the  tears 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דִּמְעָה  
Sense: tears.
הָעֲשֻׁקִ֗ים  of  the  oppressed 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: עֲשׁוּקִים  
Sense: oppression, extortion.
וְאֵ֤ין  but  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
לָהֶם֙  they  have 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
מְנַחֵ֔ם  comforter 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
וּמִיַּ֤ד  and  On  the  side 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עֹֽשְׁקֵיהֶם֙  of  their  oppressors 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.
כֹּ֔חַ  [there  is]  power 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
לָהֶ֖ם  they  have 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
מְנַחֵֽם  comforter 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.