Ecclesiastes 4:15 kjv
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Ecclesiastes 4:15 nkjv
I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
Ecclesiastes 4:15 niv
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.
Ecclesiastes 4:15 esv
I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place.
Ecclesiastes 4:15 nlt
But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 1:4 | A generation goes, and a generation comes; but the earth remains... | Cyclical nature of generations and succession. |
| Ecc 1:9 | What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun. | Repetitive nature of human events, including leadership changes. |
| Ecc 2:18-19 | I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me... And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? | The uncertainty and futility of labor for a successor whose character is unknown. |
| Ecc 5:8 | If you see in a province the oppression of the poor... do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. | Cycle of power, with one authority being succeeded or overseen by another. |
| Ecc 7:2 | It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting... | Humility and realism contrasted with seeking popularity or feasting. |
| Ecc 9:11 | The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong... nor favor to the skillful... | Popularity and success are not solely dependent on ability or merit. |
| Ecc 10:5-7 | Folly is set in many high places, while the rich sit in a low place... servants on horses, while princes walk on foot. | Anomalies in leadership, reflecting God's sovereignty over human status. |
| Psa 39:5 | Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing... Every man alive is but a breath! | The transient nature of human life and earthly achievements. |
| Psa 49:11-12 | Their inner thought is that their houses will continue forever... Yet man in his pomp will not abide... like beasts. | The fleeting legacy and power of even prominent individuals. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For not from the east or from the west... does exaltation come... it is God who judges; He brings low, He exalts. | God's sovereignty over who rises and falls in leadership. |
| Psa 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man... It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. | Reliance on human leaders is inferior to trusting in God. |
| Pro 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. | Divine control over outcomes, including who assumes power. |
| Isa 2:22 | Stop trusting in man, in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? | Exhortation against relying on or glorifying finite humanity. |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength..." | A warning against placing ultimate trust or hope in human beings, including leaders. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's absolute control over the rise and fall of earthly rulers. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal... | Futility of earthly pursuits, including fame and transient power. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool, who gathered much but was called home that night. | Emphasizes the sudden and unpredictable end of life, rendering earthly plans meaningless. |
| John 5:41-44 | "I do not receive glory from people... How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" | Highlights the difference between seeking human approval and divine glory. |
| Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. | Calls for prioritization of divine approval over human praise. |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls... the word of the Lord remains forever. | Contrasts the perishable nature of human glory with the enduring Word of God. |
Ecclesiastes 4 verses
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Meaning
Qoheleth, the Preacher, observes the widespread admiration and shift in popular allegiance towards a new leader. He notes how all people are drawn to the youthful successor who ascends to power, highlighting humanity's inherent fascination with novelty and the transient nature of public favor and worldly leadership. This observation is part of his larger contemplation on the vanity and fleeting nature of all things "under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Context
Ecclesiastes 4 describes Qoheleth's observations of injustices, human toil, loneliness, and the inherent striving "under the sun." It explores the meaninglessness of effort that yields only isolation, oppression, or envy. Verses 13-16 form a specific segment illustrating the fickle nature of popular opinion regarding rulers. Verse 13 introduces a "poor but wise youth" who is better than an "old and foolish king." Verse 14 explains this youth rising from prison to reign. Verse 15 then shifts focus to the widespread observance and admiration this new, popular leader receives, especially by "all the living." This sets the stage for the following verse (Ecc 4:16), which quickly points out the fleeting nature of this popularity, leading back to Qoheleth's ultimate conclusion about the vanity of seeking worldly praise and position.
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Word analysis
- I saw: Hebrew: ra'iti (רָאִ֑יתִי). This frequently used phrase in Ecclesiastes emphasizes Qoheleth’s empirical methodology. He bases his conclusions on direct, personal observation of life as it unfolds, validating his insights as reflections on actual human experience rather than mere theory.
- all the living: Hebrew: kol ha-ḥayyîm (כֹּ֚ל הַֽחַיִּ֔ים). Signifies the universal scope of his observation. It refers to everyone, all of humanity, not just a specific group, emphasizing the pervasive human tendency described. It underscores the general nature of this worldly phenomenon.
- who move about under the sun: Hebrew: ha-hōlkîm taḥat haššāmeš (הַהֹלְכִ֣ים תַּֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ). A defining motif of Ecclesiastes, appearing nearly 30 times. This phrase delineates the realm of Qoheleth’s observations to human existence and affairs strictly within this earthly life, apart from any supernatural or eternal perspective. It emphasizes the constant human activity and the limited, finite horizon of their pursuits.
- along with the youth, the successor: Hebrew: ʻim hayyeled haššēnî (עִֽם־הַיֶּ֖לֶד הַשֵּׁנִֽי).
- youth: hayyeled (הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙). Not simply a child, but often refers to a young adult or person of promise, vigorous and potentially innovative. This youth is contrasted with the old, foolish king of previous verses, representing a new generation or approach.
- the successor: haššēnî (הַשֵּׁנִֽי). Literally "the second" or "the one who comes after." In context, it clearly denotes the successor who takes the place of the old king mentioned in the preceding verses. It highlights the element of replacement and the cyclical nature of power transfer.
- who rises to his place: Hebrew: yeʻamōd taḥtāw (יַֽעֲמֹ֖ד תַּחְתָּֽיו). Literally, "he stood in his place" or "he stood in his stead." This phrase signifies the act of assuming authority, taking up the mantle of leadership or a position of power. It indicates the completion of the succession.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "I saw all the living who move about under the sun": This sweeping introductory statement establishes Qoheleth as an astute observer of universal human behavior within the confines of finite earthly life. It indicates a phenomenon common to all people and characteristic of existence without a divine, eternal perspective.
- "along with the youth, the successor, who rises to his place": This phrase pinpoints the specific observation. It describes the attention, hope, and widespread enthusiasm generated by a new leader, especially one who is young and popular. This successor is not just an individual but represents the constant human cycle of changing leadership and shifting allegiances.
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Bonus section
This verse directly sets up the subsequent one (Ecc 4:16), which states that even this highly popular successor will eventually lose the admiration of those who come after, showing the relentless and disappointing cycle of human endeavors "under the sun." It is not merely an observation of a specific succession but a commentary on the inherent fickleness of human public opinion and the impermanence of even great popularity or perceived success in the world. The youth's appeal often lies in his newness more than any intrinsic superior quality, demonstrating humanity's perennial longing for something fresh, even if it eventually proves to be as ephemeral as all that came before.
Ecclesiastes 4 15 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 4:15 encapsulates Qoheleth's keen observation of the human fascination with novelty and power. He notes that "all the living" – every human being "under the sun" – naturally gravitates towards a new, ascending leader, especially one presented as youthful or charismatic. This successor is embraced with universal excitement and support. Yet, this observation carries Qoheleth’s characteristic tone of "hebel," or vanity. The immediate, universal adulation is not a testament to the new leader's inherent lasting virtue or the populace's steadfast loyalty. Instead, it speaks to the superficiality and transience of worldly favor. The cycle implies that just as this new leader supplanted the old, so too will he eventually be replaced and forgotten. This underscores the futility of seeking earthly validation or holding onto power for its own sake, as both popular acclaim and temporal authority are ultimately fleeting and unsatisfying. The verse warns against placing hope or ultimate faith in human leaders, for their influence and the people’s admiration are as transient as a breath.