Ecclesiastes 1:5-8

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 1:5

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The sun rises in the morning and sets at evening in our hemisphere, according to the appearance of things; and then it makes haste to go round the other hemisphere in the night: it "pants", as the word F20 שואפ "anhelus", Montanus, Tigurine version; "anhelat", Drusius, Piscator, Cocceius, Amama; "anhelaus est", Rambachius; "doth he breathe", Broughton. signifies; the same figure is used by other... 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

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 1:5

, Ecclesiastes 1:6 ; These verses are confused by being falsely divided. The first clause of the sixth should be joined to the fifth verse. "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth; going to the south, and circulating to the north." 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

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

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