Ecclesiastes 1:2

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 Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 word by word

הֲבֵ֤ל הֲבָלִים֙ אָמַ֣ר קֹהֶ֔לֶת הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Preacherקֹהֶ֫לֶתqôheleth · preacherH6953

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 1:2

• Ecclesiastes 2:11When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 4:4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 6:11For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind?
• Ecclesiastes 11:8Indeed, if someone lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 12:8“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”
• Psalms 39:5In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.Selah
• Psalms 62:9Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor.
• Psalms 144:4A human is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
• Romans 8:20For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the 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

• Covetousness
• Experience
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Sun
• Vanity
• Synagogue, the Great

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