The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. THE PREACHER - and Convener of assemblies for the purpose. See my Preface. Qohelet (H6953) in Hebrew. It is the standing form for calling or gatherings together the people of God (Deuteronomy 4:10; Exodus 35:1; Leviticus 8:3): a symb... [ Continue Reading ]
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. The theme proposed of the first part of his discourse. VANITY OF VANITIES - Hebraism for the most utter vanity. So "holy of holies," Exodus 26:33-2; "servant of servants,'' Genesis 9:25. The repetition increases the force... [ Continue Reading ]
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? WHAT PROOF HATH A MAN OF ALL HIS LABOUR - i:e., "What profit" as to the chief good? (.) Labour is profitable in its proper place (; ; ). "An man" - Hebrew, laadam; literally, 'the earthly one,' implying man's earthly frailty... [ Continue Reading ]
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. (ONE) GENERATION PASSETH AWAY, AND (ANOTHER) GENERATION COMETH: BUT THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER. While the earth remains the same, the generations of men are ever changing. What lasting profit, then, can the... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. THE SUN. ... HASTETH TO HIS PLACE WHERE HE AROSE - (Psalms 19:5.) Panting is the Hebrew for "hasteth:" metaphor from a runner (Psalms 19:5); rejoiceth as a strong man in a "race." It applies rather to the ris... [ Continue Reading ]
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. ACCORDING TO (HEBREW, UPON) HIS CIRCUITS - i:e., it returns afresh to its former circuits, however many be its previous veerings about. The no... [ Continue Reading ]
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. ALL THE RIVERS RUN INTO THE SEA ... UNTO THE PLACE FROM WHENCE THE RIVERS COME THERE THEY RETURN - as is proved by the fast that -- THE SEA IS NOT FULL. They return t... [ Continue Reading ]
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. ALL THINGS (ARE) FULL OF LABOUR; MAN CANNOT UTTER (IT) - rather, All words are wearied out i:e., are inadequate, as also, 'man cannot express by words' the misery of human vani... [ Continue Reading ]
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. THAT WHICH IS DONE - accomplished. The results of doing are now what they shall be in the present order of things. NO NEW (THING) - (Hebrew, 'no new... [ Continue Reading ]
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. OLD TIME (HEBREW, AGES), WHICH WAS. The Hebrew plural cannot be joined to the verb singular. Therefore translate, 'It hath been in the ages before; certainly it hath been before us... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. (THERE IS) NO REMEMBRANCE OF FORMER (THINGS) or persons. The reason why some things are thought "new," which are not really so, is the imperfect record th... [ Continue Reading ]
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. Resumption of Ecclesiastes 1:1, the intermediate verses being the introductory statement of his thesis. Therefore, the Preacher ( Qohelet (H6953)) is repeated. From this verse to Ecclesiastes 2:26, the Preacher shows the vanity of earthly things f... [ Continue Reading ]
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 sons of man to be exercised therewith. I GAVE MY HEART TO ... SEARCH OUT BY WISDOM CONCERNING ALL (THINGS) THAT ARE DONE UNDER HEAVEN. "Search" implies a de... [ Continue Reading ]
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; AND, BEHOLD, ALL (IS) VANITY. The reason is here given why wise investigation into man's "works" is... [ Continue Reading ]
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. (THAT WHICH IS) CROOKED CANNOT BE MADE STRAIGHT - `be brought into position' (Hengstengberg). The imperfection in the arrangements of the world result from the fall. All attempts to rectify this imperfec... [ Continue Reading ]
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. I COMMAND WITH MINE OWN HEART - ( .) LO, I AM COME TO GREAT ESTATE, AND HAVE GOTTEN... [ Continue Reading ]
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. I GAVE MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM ... MADNESS AND FOLLY - i:e., their effects, the works of human wisdom and folly respectively. As things are best understood by comparison with their... [ Continue Reading ]
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. IN MUCH WISDOM (IS) MUCH GRIEF; AND HE THAT INCREASETH KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW - not in general; for wisdom, etc., are m... [ Continue Reading ]