Ecclesiastes 1:4 - Exposition

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 and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. Every work rotteth and consumeth away, and the worker thereof shall go withal" (Ecclesiasticus 14:17, etc.; comp. Job 10:21 ; Psalms 39:13 ). The famous passage in Homer, 'Iliad,' 6.146, etc; is thus rendered by Lord Derby—

"The race of man is as the race of leaves:

Of leaves, one generation by the wind

Is scattered on the earth; another soon

In spring's luxuriant verdure bursts to light.

So with our race: these flourish, those decay."

(Comp. ibid; 21.464, etc.; Horace, 'Ars Poet.,' 60.) But ( and ) the earth abideth forever . While the constant succession of generations of men goes on, the earth remains unchanged and immovable. If men were as permanent as is their dwelling-place, their labors might profit; but as things are, the painful contrast between the two makes itself felt. The term, "for ever," like the Greek εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα , does not necessarily imply eternity, but often denotes limited or conditioned duration, as when the slave is engaged to serve his master "for ever" ( Exodus 21:6 ), or the hills are called "everlasting" ( Genesis 49:26 ). This verse gives one instance of growth and decay in contrast with insensate continuance. The following verses give further examples.