King James Bible

Back to Reader

Ecclesiastes

9

:

3

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
This he Pronoun H2088 זֶ֣ה zeh
This [is] an evil adversity Adjective H7451 רָ֗ע ra
all all manner Noun H3605 בְּכֹ֤ל be·chol
among all [things] that are done accomplish Verb H6213 נַעֲשָׂה֙ na·'a·sah
under Thahash Noun H8478 תַּ֣חַת ta·chat
under the sun east side Noun H8121 הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ ha·she·mesh,
that [there is] one a Adjective H259 אֶחָ֖ד e·chad
Analysis:

One: God

Refers to HaShem (God), Who is One. This number can also refer to unity. The first place the number "one" occurs is in Genesis 1:5. There one reads, "And there was an evening and there was a morning— one day". Later on in this same book of Genesis, it is stated concerning the man and his wife, "And they became one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). It is very significant that in both of these examples there was a multiplicity for the subject. In the first example, the evening and the morning became one day and in the second example, it was Adam and Eve who became one flesh.

One of the most famous passages in the Torah concerning HaShem is Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, "Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is One." The question that a person must ask himself is what is the connection between the use of the Hebrew word אחד "one" which identifies a multiplicity being one and the fact that the Lord God of Israel is One? The answer is that the Hebrew word אחד can relate to the concept for one as in "unification". There is another Hebrew word that would have been possible to be used if the author wanted to refer to an absolute oneness or singleness. This is the Hebrew word יחיד. In fact, there is a well-known prayer in Judaism which states, "אחד ואין יחיד כיחודו". This phrase should be translated as, "(God is) One and there is no singularity as His singularity." The idea that is being expressed in this prayer is that the Lord God of Israel is One; but not an absolute One; rather there is a uniqueness and a complexity to His Oneness.

The number one is frequently employed to express in the Scriptures one object, such as one man or one tabernacle. This usage would be the simple or common purpose that the number one or for that matter any number, would appear in a Biblical text. Often the appearance of a number does not contain any of the significance that Hebrew numerology might offer. Therefore, the reader must always consider when coming across a verse which contains a number, that the number only expresses an amount and no additional significance. 

Because the number one is often associated with God, there is a unique phenomenon in the Scriptures concerning this number. Sometimes the number one is employed to express a unique relationship that the object has to HaShem. For example,

"And it will be one day, it will be known to HaShem..." Zechariah 14:7

In the text above, Zechariah could have stated simply, "And it will be a day…" The fact that the prophet said "one day" is to convey that this day is uniquely related to God. Similarly, it is stated by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, "one King", "one nation" and "one Shepherd" (see Ezekiel 37:22, 24). Each of these objects—King, nation and Shepherd—has a connection to HaShem. The King and Shepherd is Messiah Yeshua, the Son of God and the one nation is Israel, the people of God.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

event something befallen Noun H4745 מִקְרֶ֥ה mik·reh
for all all manner Noun H3605 לַכֹּ֑ל lak·kol;
Furthermore again Adverb H1571 וְגַ֣ם ve·gam
unto all yea also the heart care for Noun H3820 לֵ֣ב lev
of the sons afflicted Noun H1121 בְּֽנֵי־ be·nei-
of men person Noun H120 הָ֠אָדָם ha·'a·dam
of evil adversity Adjective H7451 רָ֨ע ra
and madness madness Noun H1947 וְהֹולֵלֹ֤ות ve·ho·v·le·lo·vt
[is] in their heart heart Noun H3824 בִּלְבָבָם֙ bil·va·vam
and after after that Adverb H310 וְאַחֲרָ֖יו ve·'a·cha·rav
that [they go] to the dead crying Verb H4191 הַמֵּתִֽים׃ ham·me·tim.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Hebrew Greek English This is an evil among in all things that are is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also fate for all men. Furthermore, the heart hearts of the sons of men is are full of evil, evil and madness insanity is in their heart while they live, and after that hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
New American Standard Bible 1995 This is an evil among in all things that are is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also fate for all men. Furthermore, the heart hearts of the sons of men is are full of evil, evil and madness insanity is in their heart while they live, and after that hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.