I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
- KJV I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
- BSB I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
- NASB I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him.
- NLT But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The crowds flocked to follow the rising young successor. It matters as a picture of the fickle popularity that surrounds whoever currently holds power.
Overview
The Preacher observes the multitude rallying behind the new leader who replaces the old king. The scene captures how public favor flows toward the one who is ascending. This sets up the sobering conclusion that even such popularity is fleeting, a theme that exposes the emptiness of seeking lasting meaning in human acclaim.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 2 Sam 15:6Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 4:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.