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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:4-8

To prove the vanity of all things under the sun, and their insufficiency to make us happy, Solomon here shows, 1. That the time of our enjoyment of these things is very short, and only while we accomplish as a hireling his day. We continue in the world but for one generation, which is continually passing away to make room for another, and we are passing with it. Our worldly possessions we very lately had from others, and must very shortly leave to others, and therefore to us they are vanity;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:4

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh ,.... This shows that a man can have no profit of all his labour under the sun, because of his short continuance; as soon almost as he has got anything by his labour, he must leave it: not only particular persons, but families, nations, and kingdoms; even all the inhabitants of the world, that are contemporaries, live together in the same age, in a certain period of time; these gradually go off by death, till the whole generation... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:4

One generation passeth away - Men succeed each other in unceasing generations: but the earth is still the same; it undergoes no change that leads to melioration, or greater perfection. And it will continue the same לעולם leolam , during the whole course of time; till the end of all things arrives. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:4

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh. The translation rather weakens the force of the original, which is, a generation goeth , and a generation cometh . Man is only a pilgrim on earth; he soon passes away, and his place is occupied by others. Parallelisms of this sentiment will occur to every reader. Thus Ben-Sira, "All flesh waxeth old as a garment: for the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shalt die the death. As of the green leaves on a thick tree, some fall... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:4

Vanity is shown in mankind, the elements, and all that moves on earth; the same course is repeated again and again without any permanent result or real progress; and events and people alike are forgotten.Abideth - The apparent permanence of the earth increases by contrast the transitory condition of its inhabitants.Ever - The word does not here absolutely signify “eternity” (compare Ecclesiastes 3:11 note), but a certainly short period (compare Exodus 21:6): here it might be paraphrased “as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:4

Ecclesiastes 1:4. One generation passeth away, &c. Men continue but for one, and that a short age, and then they leave all their possessions, and therefore they cannot be happy here, because the source of happiness must needs be unchangeable and eternal, and the certain knowledge of the approaching loss of all these things must rob a man of solid contentment in them. But the earth abideth Through all successive generations of men; and therefore man is more mutable than the very... 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 1:4

abideth = standeth still, as in first occurrence (Genesis 18:8 , Genesis 18:22 ; Genesis 19:27 . Joshua 18:5 .Psalms 119:90; Psalms 119:90 ). for ever. Hebrew ' olam = for ages; 'olam occurs in Ecc. seven times: Ecclesiastes 1:4 , Ecclesiastes 1:10 ; Ecclesiastes 2:16 ; Ecclesiastes 3:11 , Ecclesiastes 3:14 ; Ecclesiastes 9:6 ; Ecclesiastes 12:5 . See the notes thereon. It = the world in relation to time past and future: as we use it when we speak of the ancient world, the old world, the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:4

Ecclesiastes 1:4. The earth abideth for ever— Remaineth the same for ever] The meaning is, "The earth, considered as the scene of action, with respect to all mutable things, is no way affected by the continual and universal changes which happen on and about it." read more

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