Ecclesiastes 7:6 - Exposition

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot. There is a play of words in the Hebrew, "The crackling of sirim under a sir ," which Wright expresses by translating, "Like the noise of the nettles under the kettles." In the East, and where wood is scarce, thorns, hay, and stubble are used for fuel ( Psalms 58:9 ; Psalms 120:4 ; Matthew 6:30 ). Such materials are quickly kindled, blaze up for a time with much noise, and soon die away ( Psalms 118:12 ). So is the laughter of the fool. The point of comparison is the loud crackling and the short duration of the fire with small results. So the fool's mirth is boisterous and noisy, but comes to a speedy end, and is spent to no good purpose. So in Job ( Job 20:5 ) we have, "The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment." All this profitless mirth is again nothing but vanity.