Ecclesiastes 5:12

Authorized King James Version

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
מְתוּקָה֙
is sweet
sweet
#2
שְׁנַ֣ת
The sleep
sleep
#3
הָעֹבֵ֔ד
of a labouring man
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
#4
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#5
מְעַ֥ט
little
a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)
#6
וְאִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#7
הַרְבֵּ֖ה
or much
to increase (in whatever respect)
#8
יֹאכֵ֑ל
whether he eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#9
וְהַשָּׂבָע֙
but the abundance
copiousness
#10
לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר
of the rich
rich, whether literal or figurative (noble)
#11
אֵינֶ֛נּוּ
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
#12
מַנִּ֥יחַֽ
will not suffer
to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay
#13
ל֖וֹ
H0
#14
לִישֽׁוֹן׃
him to sleep
properly, to be slack or languid, i.e., (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die); also to grow old, stale or inveterate

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ecclesiastes Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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