Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 ESV

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:3

Ecclesiastes 1:3 . What profit What real and abiding benefit? None at all. All is unprofitable as to the attainment of that happiness which all men are inquiring after. Of all his labour Hebrew, his toilsome labour, both of body and mind, in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things; under the sun In all worldly matters, which are usually transacted in the day-time, or by the light of the sun. By this restriction he implies, that the happiness which in vain is... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 1:3

man. Hebrew. 'adam = the natural man. App-14 . labour = toil. under the sun. This expression is peculiar to this book, and occurs twenty-nine times: (Ecclesiastes 1:3 , Ecclesiastes 1:9 , Ecclesiastes 1:14 ; Ecclesiastes 2:11 , Ecclesiastes 2:17 , Ecclesiastes 2:18 , Ecclesiastes 2:19 , Ecclesiastes 2:20 , Ecclesiastes 2:22 ; Ecclesiastes 3:16 ; Ecclesiastes 4:1 , Ecclesiastes 4:3 , Ecclesiastes 4:7 , Ecclesiastes 4:15 ; Ecclesiastes 5:13 , Ecclesiastes 5:18 ; Ecclesiastes 6:1 ,... 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

Thomas Coke

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

Ecclesiastes 1:3. What profit— The word יתרון iithron, rendered profit, signifies the surplus, or that which remains after allowance is made for toils and fatigue, &c. It occurs eleven times in this book; and I think, says Mr. Desvoeux, the original notion of residue or remainder may well be preserved in every place, and will generally set the author's meaning in a better light than any other expression; though it may be sometimes convenient to make use of some other word. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:2

2. The theme proposed of the first part of his discourse. Vanity of vanities—Hebraism for the most utter vanity. So "holy of holies" ( :-); "servant of servants" ( :-). 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 (1 Timothy 4:4; 1 Timothy 4:5), but vain when put in the place of God and made the end, instead of the means (Psalms 39:5; Psalms 39:6; Psalms 62:9; Matthew 6:33);... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:3

3. What profit . . . labour—that is, "What profit" as to the chief good ( :-). Labor is profitable in its proper place (Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:19; Proverbs 14:23). under the sun—that is, in this life, as opposed to the future world. The phrase often recurs, but only in Ecclesiastes. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

A. Title and Theme 1:1-2The first two verses contain the title of the book and its theme. read more