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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, in a careful observation of the ways of men; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit, efforts which bring about no lasting good, for all the affliction of mind with which men strive to go forward cannot bring them lasting good fortune and true happiness. What this world only has to offer will always fall short of the mark.

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See also Ecclesiastes 1:14 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 14. _BEHOLD, ALL_ IS _VANITY_] After all these discussions and experiments, when even the results have been the most successful, I have found only _rational satisfaction_; but not that _supreme...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    VEXATION OF SPIRIT - A phrase which occurs 7 times, and may be otherwise translated, “feeding on wind.” Modern Hebrew grammarians assert that the word rendered “vexation” must be derived from a root s...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS PART I. Chapter S 1-6 1. The Prologue and the Search Begun CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction and prologue (Ecclesiastes 1:1)_ 2. The seeker; his method and the results (Ecc...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 1:12 TO ECCLESIASTES 2:26. QOHELETH'S INVESTIGATIONS. Assuming the character of Solomon the writer tells of his search for happiness under many forms. The pursuit of wisdom (Ecclesiastes...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    VANITY. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:2. VEXATION OF SPIRIT. feeding on wind. The expression occurs nine times (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 1:17;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _all is vanity and vexation of spirit_ The familiar words, though they fall in with the DEBATER'S tone and have the support of the Vulg. "_afflictio spiritus_," hardly express the meaning of the Hebre...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _SOLOMON'S SITUATION AND HIS STUDIES -- ECCLESIASTES 1:12-18:_ Solomon showed that things that would normally be considered as what would make a person happy do not. Surely being king would make a man...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 828 THE CREATURE IS VANITY AND VEXATION Ecclesiastes 1:14. _I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    b. Wisdom is used exploring all that is done under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:13-18 TEXT 1:13-18 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS (THE ACTIONS AND BUSINESSES OF MEN) THAT ARE DONE UNDER THE SUN;...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:14 wind. (c-22) Or 'feeding upon wind;' 'vexation of spirit.' but see ver. 17, and ch. 2.22....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ALL IS VANITY 1-11. The writer describes himself. He declares that all things are transitory and without result, whether they be the works or the life of man, or the natural forces of heat, air, and...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    VEXATION OF SPIRIT] RV 'striving after wind': cp. Hosea 12:1. The satisfaction that might have been expected from these studies is not to be attained. Air itself is not more elusive to the grasp....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ ABOUT THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES THE AUTHOR The word ‘Ecclesiastes’ tells us about the author...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    VEXATION. — The word occurs only in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    רָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת ־כָּל ־הַֽ מַּעֲשִׂ֔ים שֶֽׁ נּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FIRST SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Wisdom And In Pleasure Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 2:1 OPPRESSED by his profound sense of the vanity of the life which man lives amid the play of per...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE TESTIMONY OF AN UNSATISFIED SOUL Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 _All is vanity_! This cry finds an echo in human hearts of every age and clime. Clod meant man to be happy. “These things,” said our Lord, “I...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first verse of this chapter introduces us to the author of the Book. Taken in conjunction with verse Ecclesiastes 1:12, it leaves no room for doubt that he is Solomon. In stating his theme he empl...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Vexation. Hebrew also, "food of wind;" (Symmachus) or "choice of the spirit." (Septuagint) People are eager to become learned, and yet find no satisfaction. (Haydock) --- All natural things are insuf...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. (13) And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the so...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS THAT ARE DONE UNDER THE SUN,.... All things done by the Lord, that were on the earth, and in it, and in the sea; he considered them, and endeavoured to search into the nature...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. Ver. 14. _I have seen all the works that are done._] I have seen them, and set down mine ob...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I have seen all the works_, &c. Diligently observed, and, in a great measure, understood them; _and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit_ Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or brea...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER THE SUN, AND BEHOLD, ALL IS VANITY AND STRIVING AFTER WIND."I HAVE SEEN" -This book will mention many of the things which Solomon had observed in...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-18 Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the mo...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I HAVE SEEN, i.e. diligently observed, and in great measure understood. BEHOLD; for it was a great surprise to me, and therefore may seem strange to you. ALL IS VANITY AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT; and not...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 1:14 seen H7200 (H8804) works H4639 done H6213 (H8738) sun H8121 vanity H1892 grasping H7469

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PREACHER HAS MADE HIS ENQUIRIES AND COMES UP WITH NOTHING (ECCLESIASTES 1:12 - ECCLESIASTES 2:26). The Preacher now brings out that he has made further enquiries and has come up with nothing. He f...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INTELLECTUAL SEARCH (ECCLESIASTES 1:12). Ecclesiastes 1:12 ‘I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom about all that is done und...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12 I. Solomon found no rest in pleasure, riches, power, glory, wisdom itself. He had learnt nothing more, after all, than he might have known, and doubtless did know, when he was a chil...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12 I. Solomon's first resource was philosophy. He studied man's position in this world. His appetite for knowledge was omnivorous; and whilst hungering for the harvest, he was thankful...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The doctrine of the vanity of the creature, and the impossibility of finding satisfaction without God. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: All things, considered as abstract from God, an...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 1:2. _Vanity of vanities._ This is the Hebrew form of the superlative degree of comparison; as, the heaven of heavens, the song of songs, &c. He adds, “vexation of spirit,” because his re...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _All is vanity and vexation of spirit._ THE VANITY OF A WORLDLY LIFE The tone of these words is intensely sad, and perhaps some of us are inclined to think that they embody a morbid conception of hum...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven._ THE MYSTERIES OF HUMAN LIFE Now, there has never been any book which can be compared to this marve...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:4 First Catalog of “Vanities.” The Preacher gives specific examples to prove his belief that all is “vanity.”...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 1:14 The Preacher examined everything UNDER THE SUN. However, he is unable to understand it all. He concludes that everything is VANITY and a striving aft

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 1:1 THE TITLE. THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM; Septuagint, "King of Israel in Jerusalem" (comp.Ecclesiastes 1:12). The word rendered "Preacher...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Book of Ecclesiastes begins, The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:1). So that identifies the author as Solomon. The Hebrew word that is translated preacher i...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 4:30; Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 1:18; Ecclesiastes 2:11;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE MAN UNDER THE SUN Ecclesiastes 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In order to introduce this study we can think of no better way than to go to our booklet on Ecclesiastes for a quotation. 1. ECCLESIASTES S...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Seen — Diligently observed. Vanity — Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit....

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