The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 4:5 Explained

Ecclesiastes 4:5

KJV: The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

YLT: The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

Darby: The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

ASV: The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The fool  foldeth  his hands  together,  and eateth  his own flesh. 

What does Ecclesiastes 4:5 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 4

1  vanity is increased unto men by oppression
4  by envy
5  by idleness
7  by covetousness
9  by solitariness
13  by willfulness

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 4:5 mean?

The fool folds - his hands and consumes his own flesh
הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־ יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל בְּשָׂרֽוֹ

הַכְּסִיל֙  The  fool 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
חֹבֵ֣ק  folds 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָבַק  
Sense: to embrace, clasp.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יָדָ֔יו  his  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְאֹכֵ֖ל  and  consumes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
בְּשָׂרֽוֹ  his  own  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.