Lexical Summary i: Coast, island Original Word: אִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance woe Short from 'owy; alas! -- woe. see HEBREW 'owy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. interj. Definition alas! NASB Translation woe (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. אִי interjection (so in Rabb, see DeKoh 197 WrEccl 490) alas! (late) Ecclesiastes 4:10 אִי לוֺ (written in ᵑ0 as one word) alas for him (Ew§ 309 c), the one, who falleth, etc. (i.e. who falleth alone) Ecclesiastes 10:16. Topical Lexicon Definition and Essential Idea אִי is an exclamatory particle expressing grief, alarm, or foreboding—“Woe!” It is never a mere interjection of surprise; it signals genuine danger or impending loss, calling the listener to sober reflection and corrective action. Old Testament Usage The word appears twice, both in Ecclesiastes: • Ecclesiastes 4:10 – “But woe to him who is alone and falls and has no one to lift him up!” Though limited in frequency, these occurrences stand in strategic positions within the preacher’s discourse, sharpening key lessons on companionship and governance. Contextual Themes in Ecclesiastes 1. Vulnerability of Isolation (4:10) The lament underscores the peril of self-sufficiency. Human beings were created for fellowship (Genesis 2:18); isolation exposes spiritual and practical weakness. The cry of “woe” magnifies the urgency of mutual support and anticipates the New Covenant ethic of body-life (1 Corinthians 12:14–26). 2. Peril of Immature Leadership (10:16) A nation suffers when rulers lack wisdom and self-restraint. The “woe” warns that misrule invites disorder, economic hardship, and moral decline—consistent with Proverbs’ teaching that “when the righteous thrive, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2). Theology of Woe Throughout Scripture “woe” introduces divine evaluation. Whether spoken by prophets (Isaiah 5:20), by Jesus (Matthew 23:13–36), or in Revelation (Revelation 8:13), it marks a moral boundary: cross it and judgment follows. In Ecclesiastes, the preacher adopts this covenantal vocabulary, reminding readers that even observations about daily life are ultimately theological. The miseries he describes are not random; they arise from ignoring God-ordained structures of fellowship and righteous authority. Practical Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care – Encourage believers to cultivate accountable relationships. A member who drifts into isolation should hear Ecclesiastes 4:10 as a loving warning. Christological and New Testament Parallels Jesus fulfills and transcends Old Testament woes. He both pronounces judgment (Matthew 11:21) and bears it on behalf of His people (Galatians 3:13). The loneliness described in Ecclesiastes 4 finds its ultimate remedy in the One who promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Likewise, the warning against immature kingship anticipates the flawless reign of the Messiah, “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Related Hebrew Expressions Ecclesiastes also uses הוֹי (Strong’s 1945) for “woe,” and אוֹי (Strong’s 188) appears elsewhere. Each nuance reinforces the gravity of covenant violation, but אִי is notably concise, heightening its rhetorical punch. Illustrative Outline for Teaching or Preaching 1. Opening Illustration: A climber who falls while solo-hiking. In just two occurrences, אִי provides a solemn checkpoint, steering hearers away from self-reliance and negligent leadership toward the safety of God-designed community and the hope of righteous rule. Forms and Transliterations וְאִ֣יל֗וֹ ואילו veILo wə’îlōw wə·’î·lōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ecclesiastes 4:10 HEB: אֶת־ חֲבֵר֑וֹ וְאִ֣יל֗וֹ הָֽאֶחָד֙ שֶׁיִּפּ֔וֹל NAS: up his companion. But woe to the one KJV: his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone INT: will lift his companion woe to the one falls Ecclesiastes 10:16 2 Occurrences |
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