Ecclesiastes 1:8

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 1:8

All things are full of labour ,.... Or "are laborious" F7 יגעים "laboriosae", Pagninus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Schmidt. ; gotten by labour, and attended with fatigue and weariness; riches are got by labour, and those who load themselves with thick clay, as gold and silver be, weary themselves with it; honour and glory, crowns and kingdoms, are weighty cares, and very fatiguing to those that have them; much study to acquire knowledge is a weariness to the flesh; and as men... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:8

All things are full of labor - It is; impossible to calculate how much anxiety, pain, labor, and fatigue are necessary in order to carry on the common operations of life. But an endless desire of gain, and an endless curiosity to unfitness a variety of results, cause men to, labor on. The eye sees much, but wishes to, see more. The ear hears of many things; but is curious to have the actual knowledge of them. So desire and curiosity carry men, under the Divine providence, through all the... 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 1:8

All things are full of labor . Taking the word dabar in the sense of "ward" (compare the Greek ῥῆμα ), the LXX . translates, "All words are wearisome;" i . e . to go through the whole catalogue of such things as those mentioned in the preceding verses would be a laborious and unprofitable task. The Targum and many modern expositors approve this rendering. But besides that, the word yaged implies suffering, not causing, weariness ( Deuteronomy 25:18 ; Job 3:17 ); the run... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:8

All things ... utter it - This clause, as here translated, refers to the immensity of labor. Others translate it, “all words are full of labor; they make weary the hearers,” or “are feeble or insufficient” to tell the whole; and are referred to the impossibility of adequately describing labor. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:8-9

Ecclesiastes 1:8-9. All things Not only the sun, and winds, and rivers, but all other creatures; are full of labour They are in continual restlessness and change, never abiding in the same state. The eye is not satisfied As there are many things in the world vexatious to men, so even those things which are comfortable are not satisfactory, but men are constantly desiring some longer continuance or fuller enjoyment of them, or variety in them. The eye and ear are here put for all the... 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 1:8

labour = weariness. man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . the eye. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and the eye". read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:8

Ecclesiastes 1:8. All things are full of labour— All these considerations are wearisome. Desvoeux. read more

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