Pengkhotbah 6:4
Konteks6:4 Though the stillborn child 1 came into the world 2 for no reason 3 and departed into darkness,
though its name is shrouded in darkness, 4
Pengkhotbah 7:23
Konteks7:23 I have examined all this by wisdom;
I said, “I am determined 5 to comprehend this” 6 – but it was beyond my grasp. 7
Pengkhotbah 12:10
Konteks[6:4] 1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (“the stillborn child”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[6:4] 2 tn The phrase “into the world” does not appear in Hebrew, but is added in the translation for clarity.
[6:4] 3 sn The birth of the stillborn was in vain – it did it no good to be born.
[6:4] 4 sn The name of the stillborn is forgotten.
[7:23] 5 tn The cohortative אֶחְכָּמָה (’ekhkamah, from חָכַם, khakham,“to be wise”) emphasizes the resolve (determination) of Qoheleth to become wise enough to understand the perplexities of life.
[7:23] 6 tn Or “I am determined to become wise”
[7:23] 7 tn Or “but it eluded me”; Heb “but it was far from me.”
[12:10] 8 tn In the construct phrase דִּבְרֵי־חֵפֶץ (divre-khefets, “words of delight”) the noun חֵפֶץ (“delight”) functions as an attributive genitive (“delightful words”) or a genitive of estimation or worth (“words viewed as delightful by Qoheleth” or “words that he took delight in”). For another example of a genitive of estimation of worth, see זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים (zivkhe ’elohim) “sacrifices of God” = “sacrifices viewed as acceptable to God” (Ps 51:19). In other words, Qoheleth wrote his proverbs so effectively that he was able to take moral and aesthetic delight in his words.
[12:10] 9 tc The consonantal form וכתוב has been revocalized in three ways: (1) The Masoretes read וְכָתוּב (vÿkhatuv, conjunction + Qal passive participle ms from כָּתַב, katav, “to write”): “Qoheleth sought to find pleasant words, what was written uprightly, namely, words of truth.” This is supported by the LXX’s καὶ γεγραμμένον (kai gegrammenon, conjunction + masculine accusative singular perfect passive participle from γράφω, grafw, “to write). (2) The BHS editors suggest the vocalization וְכָתוֹב (vÿkhatov, conjunction + Qal infinitive absolute). The infinitive וְכָתוֹב (“and to write”) in the B-line would parallel the infinitive of purpose לִמְצֹא (limtso’, “to find”) in the A-line: “Qoheleth sought to find pleasant words, and to write accurately words of truth.” (3) Several medieval Hebrew
[12:10] 10 tn The construct phrase דִּבְרֵי אֱמֶת (divre ’emet, “words of truth”) is a genitive of content (“words containing truth”) or an attributive genitive (“truthful words”). Depending upon the vocalization of וכתוב, the phrase functions in one of two ways: (1) as direct object of וְכָתוֹב יֹשֶׁר (vÿkhatov yosher) “and he accurately wrote truthful words”; or (2) in apposition to וְכָתוּב יֹשֶׁר (vÿkhatuv yosher) “and what is written uprightly, namely, truthful words.”