---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .  side. Hebrew \"hand\": put by Figure of speech  Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the violence proceeding fro"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/ecclesiastes/4"
---

**under the sun.** See note on [Ecclesiastes 1:3](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/1/3) .
**side.** Hebrew "hand": put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for the violence proceeding from it.
**they:** i.e. the oppressed. The phrase repeated for emphasis. Figure of speech *Epistrophe.* App-6 .

**praised** = commended, or pronounced happy. Hebrew. *sliabach,* used only by David and Solomon.

**better.** See note on [Ecclesiastes 2:24](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/24) .

**travail** = toil, as connected with trouble, sorrow. Not the same word as in [Ecclesiastes 1:13](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/1/13) ; [Ecclesiastes 2:23](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/23) , [Ecclesiastes 2:26](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/26) ; [Ecclesiastes 3:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/10) ; [Ecclesiastes 4:8](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/8) ; [Ecclesiastes 5:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/14) .
**every right work** = all the dexterity in work.
**man.** Hebrew. *'ish.* App-14 .
**vexation, &c.** = feeding on wind. See note on [Ecclesiastes 1:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/1/14) .
**spirit.** Hebrew. *ruach.* App-9 .

**fool.** Hebrew. *kesil,* fat, inert. See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) .

**child** = son.
**labour** = toil.
**my soul** = myself.
**travail** = fatigue from toil. See note on [Ecclesiastes 2:23](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/23) , [Ecclesiastes 2:26](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/26) .

**prevail against** = overpower. Hebrew. *takaph,* supposed to belong to later Hebrew, but it is found in [Job 14:20](../../../kjv/job/14/20) with [Job 15:24](../../../kjv/job/15/24) (the only three occurrences). See App-76 .
**a threefold cord.** Compare [Numbers 6:24-26](../../../kjv/numbers/6/24-26) . [Micah 6:8](../../../kjv/micah/6/8) . [Titus 2:12](../../../kjv/titus/2/12) , [Titus 2:13](../../../kjv/titus/2/13) ; [1 Thessalonians 1:3](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/1/3) with [1 Thessalonians 1:9](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/1/9) , [1 Thessalonians 1:10](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/1/10) .

**poor** = straitened in means, not able to profit others. Hebrew. *misken.* Not the same as in [Ecclesiastes 4:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/14) . Supposed to be a later Hebrew word, but a derivative of it is found in [Deuteronomy 8:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/8/9) . See App-76 .

**out of prison, &c.** Compare Joseph ([Genesis 41:40](../../../kjv/genesis/41/40) ); Daniel ([Daniel 5:29](../../../kjv/daniel/5/29) ; [Daniel 6:1-3](../../../kjv/daniel/6/1-3) ).
**born, &c.** Compare Rehoboam, robbed by Shishak ([1 Kings 14:25-28](../../../kjv/1-kings/14/25-28) ).
**poor** = needy, in want. Hebrew. *rush.* See note on "poverty", [Proverbs 6:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/11) .[Proverbs 6:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/16); [Proverbs 6:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/16)
**vexation.** The same word as in [Ecclesiastes 1:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/1/17) ; [Ecclesiastes 2:22](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/22) .

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