Ecclesiastes 4:5

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 4:5 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Ecclesiastes 4:5 — 10 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Job 13:14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
  2. Proverbs 6:9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
  3. Proverbs 6:10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
  4. Proverbs 6:11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
  5. Proverbs 11:17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
  6. Proverbs 12:27A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession.
  7. Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
  8. Proverbs 20:4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
  9. Proverbs 24:33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
  10. Isaiah 9:20They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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