Ecclesiastes 4 · Verse 15

Ecclesiastes 4:15

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Ecclesiastes 4:15, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 4:15 in other translations

BSBI saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
WEBI saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
ASVI saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
YLTI have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
DARBYI saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.
BBEI saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
WebsterI considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

What does Ecclesiastes 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. "I considered all the living," the present generation, in relation to ("with") the "second youth" (the "legitimate successor" of the "old king," as opposed to the "poor youth," the one first spoken of, about to be raised from poverty to a throne), that is, Rehoboam. in his stead--the old king's.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 With the second child that shall stand up - The Targum applies this to the case of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. History affords many instances of mean persons raised to sovereign authority, and of kings being reduced to the meanest offices, and to a morsel of bread. Agrippa himself ascended the throne of Israel after having been long in prison. See Josephus, Ant. lib. 18: c. 8. This the heathens attributed to fortune. Si fortuna volet, fies de rhetore consul; Si volet haec eadem, fies de consule rhetor. Juv. Sat. vii., ver. 197. Though I have given what the Jews suppose to be the allusion in these verses, yet the reader may doubt whether the reference be correct. There is a case implied, whether from fact or assumption I cannot say; but it seems to be this: A king who had abused the authority vested in him by oppressing the people, had a son whose prudent conduct promised much comfort to the nation, when he should come to the throne. The father, seeing the popular wish, and becoming jealous of his son, shut him up in prison. In the interim the old king either dies or is deposed, and the son is brought out of prison, and placed on the throne. Then (Ecc 4:15, Ecc 4:16) multitudes of the people flock to him, and begin to walk under the sun; i.e., the prosperous state to which the nation is raised by its redemption from the former tyranny. However, the wise man insinuates that this sunshine will not last long. The young king, feeling the reins in his own hands, and being surrounded by those whose interest it was to flatter in order to obtain and continue in court favor, he also becomes corrupted so that those who come after shall have no cause of rejoicing in him. This appears to be the case; and similar cases have frequently occurred, not only in Asiatic, but also in European history, I have, in another place, referred to the case of Rushn Achter, who was brought out of prison and set upon the throne of Hindoostan. This is expressed in the following elegant Persian couplet, where his fortune is represented as similar to that of the patriarch Joseph: - "The bright star is now become a moon: Joseph is taken out of prison, and become a king." Rushn Achter signifies a bright or splendid star.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

People are never long easy and satisfied; they are fond of changes. This is no new thing. Princes see themselves slighted by those they have studied to oblige; this is vanity and vexation of spirit. But the willing servants of the Lord Jesus, our King, rejoice in him alone, and they will love Him more and more to all eternity.

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 →

Ecclesiastes 4:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiI sawH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha.chai.Yimthe livingH2416
הַֽמְהַלְּכִ֖יםham.ha.le.Khimwho are walking aboutH1980
תַּ֣חַתTa.chatunderH8478
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshthe sunH8121
עִ֚ם'imwithH5973
הַיֶּ֣לֶדhai.Ye.ledthe youthH3206
הַשֵּׁנִ֔יha.she.Ni<the> secondH8145
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhoH834
יַעֲמֹ֖דya.'a.Modhe will ariseH5975
תַּחְתָּֽיו\׃tach.Tavin place of himH8478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 4:15

  • 2 Samuel 15:6

    And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
child.
2Sa 15:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 4:14

    For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:15

    I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:16

    There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vi todos los vivientes debajo del sol caminando con el muchacho sucesor, que estará en lugar de aquél.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’ai vu tous les vivants qui marchent sous le soleil, avec le jeune garçon, le second, qui occupera sa place.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich sah alle Lebenden, die unter der Sonne wandeln, mit dem Jünglinge, dem zweiten, welcher an jenes Stelle treten sollte:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vidi cunctos viventes qui ambulant sub sole cum adolescente secundo, qui consurget pro eo.