Bible Commentaries

bread. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6, for the seed from which it is produced.

upon = upon the surface of.

it = the profit or result of it.

Give: i.e. in charity.

a portion: i.e. a portion of the bread of Ecclesiastes 11:1.

seven . . . eight. An idiomatic phrase denoting several or many, like the idiom "once . . . twice" = several times (Job 33:14. Psalms 62:11); "twice. . . thrice" = often (Job 33:29. Isaiah 17:6); "three and four" = frequently, or many (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:7. Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 30:18, Proverbs 30:21. Amos 1:3, Amos 1:6, Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:13; Amos 2:1, Amos 2:4, Amos 2:6); "four and five" (Isaiah 17:6); "six and seven" = many (Job 5:19); "seven and eight" (Micah 5:5).

what evil. As the verb is Masculine but "evil" is feminine, render "what will prove a misfortune".

evil = misfortune. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.

upon the earth. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:2.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

shall not sow. shall not reap. The ploughing must be done when the early rains have come, even in the face of storm and tempest; otherwise there will be no reaping after the latter rains.

As = According as. See note on John 3:8. spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true] God, or the Deity. App-4. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13.

prosper. Hebrew. kasher: supposed to be a later Hebrew word, but a kindred form seems to be found in Psalms 68:6, where "with chains" should be rendered "into prosperity". See App-75.

man. Hebrew. "adam (with Art.) App-14. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13.

and rejoice = let him rejoice.

Rejoice, &c. A positive command, not irony; qualified by the solemn fact: "but know thou", &c.

young man = a chosen youth, implying beauty and strength.

youth = childhood.

thy youth. Same word as "young man".

judgment = the judgment.

evil = sadness.

youth = dawn of life. Hebrew. shaharuth. Occurs only here