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 Kohelet , son of David, king in Jerusalem. Futile! Futile! says Kohelet. Completely meaningless! Everything is futile! 3What does a person gain in all his labor that he toils under the sun? 4A generation comes, and a generation goes, 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 2:11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended to accomplish it, behold, it all was futile and chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19For the destiny of humankind and the destiny of animals are one and the same. As one dies, so dies the other. Both have the same breath—a human has no advantage over an animal—both are fleeting.
• Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I saw that all toil and all skill that is done come from man’s envy of his neighbor; this too is fleeting and striving after the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10When goods increase, so do those who consume them. So what advantage are they to the owner except he sees it with his eyes?
• Ecclesiastes 6:11When there are many words, futility increases! How does that benefit anyone?
• Ecclesiastes 11:8For if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness— for there will be many. Everything to come is obscure.
• Ecclesiastes 12:8“Evanescent vapors,” says Kohelet. All is futility.
• Psalms 39:5“Let me know, Adonai, my end and what the number of my days is. Let me know how short-lived I am.
• Psalms 62:9Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart in His presence. God is our refuge. Selah
• Psalms 144:4Man 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 the One 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

• 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