Ecclesiastes 1 - Introduction
The introductory verses Ecclesiastes 1:1 serve to describe the writer, and to state the subject of his book.... [ Continue Reading ]
The introductory verses Ecclesiastes 1:1 serve to describe the writer, and to state the subject of his book.... [ Continue Reading ]
PREACHER - literally, Convener. No one English word represents the Hebrew קהלת _qôheleth_ adequately. Though capable, according to Hebrew usage, of being applied to men in office, it is strictly a feminine participle, and describes a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if... [ Continue Reading ]
VANITY - This word הבל _hebel_, or, when used as a proper name, in Genesis 4:2, “Abel”, occurs no less than 37 times in Ecclesiastes, and has been called the key of the book. Primarily it means “breath,” “light wind;” and denotes what: (1) passes away more or less quickly and completely; (2) leave... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT PROFIT ... - The question often repeated is the great practical inquiry of the book; it receives its final answer in Ecclesiastes 12:13. When this question was asked, the Lord had not yet spoken Matthew 11:28. The word “profit” (or pre-eminence) is opposed to “vanity.” HATH A MAN - Rather, hat... [ Continue Reading ]
Vanity is shown in mankind, the elements, and all that moves on earth; the same course is repeated again and again without any permanent result or real progress; and events and people alike are forgotten. ABIDETH - The apparent permanence of the earth increases by contrast the transitory condition... [ Continue Reading ]
HASTETH ... - literally, at his place panting (in his eagerness) riseth he there.... [ Continue Reading ]
More literally, Going toward the south and veering toward the north, veering, veering goes the wind; and to its veerings the wind returns.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLACE - i. e., The spring or river-head. It would seem that the ancient Hebrews regarded the clouds as the immediate feeders of the springs (Proverbs 8:28, and Psalms 104:10, Psalms 104:13). Genesis 2:6 indicates some acquaintance with the process and result of evaporation.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH BEEN ... IS DONE - i. e., Hath happened in the course of nature ... is done by man.... [ Continue Reading ]
THINGS - Rather, men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon relates his personal experience Ecclesiastes 2; the result of which was “no profit,” and a conviction that all, even God’s gifts of earthly good to good men, in this life are subject to vanity. His trial of God’s first gift, wisdom, is recounted in Ecclesiastes 1:12. WAS - This tense does n... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM - As including both the powers of observation and judgment, and the knowledge acquired thereby (1 Kings 3:28; 1 Kings 4:29; 1 Kings 10:8, ...). It increases by exercise. Here is noted its application to people and their actions. TRAVAIL - In the sense of toil; the word is here applied to all... [ Continue Reading ]
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 signifying “to feed,” “follow,” “strive after.” This being admitted, it remains to choose between two... [ Continue Reading ]
He saw clearly both the disorder and incompleteness of human actions (compare the marginal reference), and also man’s impotence to rectify them.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM COME ... - Rather, I have accumulated (literally “enlarged and added”) wisdom more than etc. THEY THAT HAVE BEEN ... - The reference is probably to the line of Canaanite kings who lived in Jerusalem before David took it, such as Melchizedek Genesis 14:18, Adonizedek Joshua 10:1, and Araunah 2 S... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW MADNESS AND FOLLY - A knowledge of folly would help him to discern wisdom, and to exercise that chief function of practical wisdom - to avoid folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
We become more sensible of our ignorance and impotence, and therefore sorrowful, in proportion as we discover more of the constitution of nature and the scheme of Providence in the government of the world; every discovery serving to convince us that more remains concealed of which we had no suspicio... [ Continue Reading ]