Ecclesiastes 6:8
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 12
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יּוֹתֵ֥ר
more
H3148
יּוֹתֵ֥ר
more
Strong's:
H3148
Word #:
3 of 12
properly, redundant; hence, over and above, as adjective, noun, adverb or conjunction
לֶחָכָ֖ם
For what hath the wise
H2450
לֶחָכָ֖ם
For what hath the wise
Strong's:
H2450
Word #:
4 of 12
wise, (i.e., intelligent, skilful or artful)
מִֽן
H4480
מִֽן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
5 of 12
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַכְּסִ֑יל
than the fool
H3684
הַכְּסִ֑יל
than the fool
Strong's:
H3684
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, fat, i.e., (figuratively) stupid or silly
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יוֹדֵ֔עַ
that knoweth
H3045
יוֹדֵ֔עַ
that knoweth
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
9 of 12
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
לַהֲלֹ֖ךְ
to walk
H1980
לַהֲלֹ֖ךְ
to walk
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
10 of 12
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Historical Context
Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes late in life (circa 935 BC), after amassing unprecedented wealth and wisdom. His rhetorical questions reflect the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition's dialogue format, where a teacher poses paradoxes to provoke deeper reflection on life's meaning.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ transform the question of wisdom's 'profit,' making it not futile but eternal?
- What practical skills ('walking before the living') do you pursue—and do they serve temporal or eternal ends?
Analysis & Commentary
What hath the wise more than the fool? (מַה־יּוֹתֵר לֶחָכָם מִן־הַכְּסִיל)—The Preacher's question cuts to the bone: if death is the great equalizer, what advantage (yōtēr, 'surplus' or 'profit') does wisdom provide? The second question sharpens the irony: what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? The Hebrew phrase 'walk before the living' (לַהֲלֹךְ נֶגֶד הַחַיִּים) means to conduct oneself skillfully in society—yet even this social competence yields no ultimate advantage.
Under the sun, both wise and fool die (2:16). But from an eternal perspective, Proverbs 3:13-18 celebrates wisdom's true profit. The New Testament resolves this tension: Christ is 'the wisdom of God' (1 Cor 1:24), and those who gain Him gain eternal advantage.