Ecclesiastes 7:26

Authorized King James Version

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּמוֹצֶ֨א
And I find
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#2
אֲנִ֜י
i
#3
מַ֣ר
more bitter
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
#4
מִמָּ֗וֶת
than death
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
#5
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#6
הָֽאִשָּׁה֙
the woman
a woman
#7
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#8
הִ֨יא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#9
מְצוֹדִ֧ים
is snares
a fastness or (beseiging) tower
#10
וַחֲרָמִ֛ים
and nets
physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination
#11
לִבָּ֖הּ
whose heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#12
אֲסוּרִ֣ים
as bands
a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)
#13
יָדֶ֑יהָ
and her hands
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#14
ט֞וֹב
whoso pleaseth
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#15
לִפְנֵ֤י
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#16
הָאֱלֹהִים֙
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#17
יִמָּלֵ֣ט
shall escape
properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn
#18
מִמֶּ֔נָּה
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#19
וְחוֹטֵ֖א
from her but the sinner
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
#20
יִלָּ֥כֶד
shall be taken
to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere
#21
בָּֽהּ׃
H0

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Ecclesiastes. The concept of divine sovereignty reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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