Amplified Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:2
2“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
Ecclesiastes 1:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- New International Version (NIV)“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Context of Ecclesiastes 1:2
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” 3What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)? 4One generation goes and another generation comes, But the earth remains forever.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 1Ecclesiastes 1:2 word by word
הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:2
- Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 3:19For the [earthly] fate of the sons of men and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no preeminence or advantage for man [in and of himself] over an animal, for all is vanity.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 5:10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).
- Ecclesiastes 6:11For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man?
- Ecclesiastes 11:8Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility.
- Ecclesiastes 12:8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”
- Psalms 39:5Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths, And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.
- Psalms 62:9Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion). In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value]; They are together lighter than a breath.
- Psalms 144:4Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a shadow that passes away.
- Romans 8:20For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Vanity of vanities - As the words are an exclamation, it would be better to translate, O vanity of vanities! Emptiness of emptinesses. True, substantial good is not to be found in any thing liable to change and corruption. The author referred to in the introduction begins his paraphrase thus: - "O vain deluding world! whose largest gifts Thine emptiness betray, like painted clouds, Or watery bubbles: as the vapor flies, Dispersed by lightest blast, so…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Vanity - This word הבל hebel or, when used as a proper name, in Genesis 4:2, “Abel”, occurs no less than 37 times in Ecclesiastes, and has been called the key of the book. Primarily it means “breath,” “light wind;” and denotes what: (1) passes away more or less quickly and completely; (2) leaves either no result or no adequate result behind, and therefore (3) fails to satisfy the mind of man, which naturally craves for something permanent and progressive…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Futility of futilities...Everything is futile (literally vapor of vapors): Whenever "meaningless" appears in this book, it translates the Hebrew word hebel, which means "breath" or "vapor." The Teacher concludes that everything is temporary and lacks meaning, like vapor.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. The theme proposed of the first part of his discourse. Vanity of vanities--Hebraism for the most utter vanity. So "holy of holies" (Ex 26:33); "servant of servants" (Ge 9:25). The repetition increases the force. all--Hebrew, "the all"; all without exception, namely, earthly things. vanity--not in themselves, for God maketh nothing in vain (1Ti 4:4, 5), but vain when put in the place of God and made the end, instead of the means (Psa 39:5, 6; 62:9; Mt…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 1:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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