Ecclesiastes 1:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Here is, I. An account of the penman of this book; it was Solomon, for no other son of David was king of Jerusalem; but he conceals his name Solomon, peaceable, because by his sin he had brought trouble upon himself and his kingdom, had broken his peace with God and lost the peace of his conscience, and therefore was no more worthy of that name. Call me not Solomon, call me Marah, for, behold, for peace I had great bitterness. But he calls himself, 1. The preacher, which intimates his present... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher ,.... This is the preacher's text; the theme and subject he after enlarges upon, and proves by an induction of particulars; it is the sum of the whole book; vanity of vanities, all is vanity ; most extremely vain, exceedingly so, the height of vanity: this is repeated, both for the confirmation of it, men being hard of belief of it; and to show how much the preacher was affected with it himself, and to affect others with the same. The Targum... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity 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 fleet thy joys, And leave... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (comp. Ecclesiastes 12:8 ). "Vanity" is hebel , which means "breath," and is used metaphorically of anything transitory, frail, unsatisfying. We have it in the proper name Abel, an appropriate designation of the youth whose life was cut short by a brother's murderous hand. "Vanity of vanities," like "heaven of heavens" ( 1 Kings 8:27 ), "song of songs" (So Ecclesiastes 1:1 ), etc; is equivalent to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

PROLOGUE . The vanity of all human and mundane things, and the oppressive monotony of their continued recurrence. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity - 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: it is also applied to:(4) idols, as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Ecclesiastes 1:2. Vanity, &c. Not only vain, but vanity in the abstract, which denotes extreme vanity. Saith the Preacher Upon deep consideration and long experience, and by divine inspiration. This verse contains the general proposition, which he intends particularly to demonstrate in the following book. All All worldly things; is vanity Not in themselves, for they are God’s creatures, and therefore good in their kinds, but in reference to that happiness which men seek and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

1:1-4:16 ACCEPT THE LIFE GOD GIVES AND ENJOY ITIs there a purpose to life? (1:1-11)At times life does not appear to have much meaning. People have to work to keep themselves alive, but in the end they lose everything they have worked for. Generation after generation passes, but the same things still happen (1:1-4). The sun rises and sets, then the next day the cycle is repeated. The wind blows and circles around, coming back to begin its course all over again. Rivers flow unceasingly into the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities. Figure of speech Polyptoton. Note also the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis ( App-6 ), by which Ecclesiastes 1:2 begins and ends with the same word. These Figures are used for the greatest emphasis, and denote utter vanity. all = the whole, or "the sum total". Not everything in the universe, but all the human labours of Ecclesiastes 1:3 , Ecclesiastes 1:8 . vanity. Heb habal, used of that which soon vanishes. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3. Vanity of vanities— Vanity of vanities, according to the Hebrew idiom, signifies, the greatest vanity. The original word הבל hebel, signifies, properly, steam or vapour, and is used to denote any thing which is transient and empty, in apparition to what is solid, substantial, and permanent. These verses contain the first proposition, "That no labour or trouble of men," &c. The proofs of which we here subjoin analytically: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3. I. Proposition. Ecc 1:4 to... read more

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