Ecclesiastes 1:6-7

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 1:6

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north ,.... The word "wind" is not in this clause in the original text, but is taken from the next, and so may be rendered, "it goeth towards the south", &c.; that is, the sun F24 Jarchi, Alshech, and Titatzak, interpret it of the sun; so Mercerus, Varenius, Gejerus; accordingly Mr. Broughton renders it "he walketh to the south." before mentioned, which as to its diurnal and nocturnal course in the daytime goes towards the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full ,.... Which flow from fountains or an formed by hasty rains; these make their way to the sea, yet the sea is not filled therewith, and made to abound and overflow the earth, as it might be expected it would. So Seneca says F26 Nat. Quaest. l. 3. c. 4. we wonder that the accession of rivers is not perceived in the sea; and Lucretius F1 De Rerum Natura, l. 6. observes the same, that it is wondered at that the sea should not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:6

"The wind is continually whirling about, and the wind returneth upon its whirlings." It is plain, from the clause which I have restored to the fifth verse, that the author refers to the approximations of the sun to the northern and southern tropics, viz., of Cancer and Capricorn. All the versions agree in applying the first clause of the sixth verse to the sun, and not to the wind. Our version alone has mistaken the meaning. My old MS. Bible is quite correct: The sunne riisith up, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full - The reason is, nothing goes into it either by the; rivers or by rain, that does not come from it: and to the place whence the rivers come, whether from the sea originally by evaporation, or immediately by rain, thither they return again; for the water exhaled from the sea by evaporation is collected in the clouds, and in rain, etc., falls upon the tops of the mountains; and, filtered through their fissures, produce streams, several... 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 1:6

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; literally, going towards the south , and circling towards the north . These words, as we have seen above, are referred to the sun by the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac; but it is best to make this verse refer only to the wind—a fresh example of motion continually repeated with no real progress to an end. Thus each verse comprises one subject and idea, Ecclesiastes 1:4 being concerned with the earth, Ecclesiastes 1:5... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full. Here is another instance of unvarying operation producing no tangible result. The phenomenon mentioned is often the subject of remark and speculation in classical authors. Commentators cite Aristophanes, 'Clouds,' 1293— αὕτη μὲν (sc. ἡ θάλαττα ) οὐδὲν γίγνεται ἐπιῤῥεόντων τῶν ποταμῶν πλείων , "The sea, though all the rivers flow therein, Waxeth no greater." Lucretius attempts to account for the fact,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:6

More literally, Going toward the south and veering toward the north, veering, veering goes the wind; and to its veerings the wind returns. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:7

The place - i. e., The spring or river-head. It would seem that the ancient Hebrews regarded the clouds as the immediate feeders of the springs (Proverbs 8:28, and Psalms 104:10, Psalms 104:13). Genesis 2:6 indicates some acquaintance with the process and result of evaporation. read more

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