Ecclesiastes 1:14

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 only "sore travail" (Ecclesiastes 1:13) - namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ecclesiastes 1:18), and cannot be mended. (Ecclesiastes 1:15). VEXATION OF (A PREYING UPON THE) SPIRIT, [ rª`uwt (H7469) ruwach ...

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 more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour....

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 good_ by which alone the soul can be made happy. O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! "How anxious are our cares, and yet how vain The bent of our desires!" PERS. _Sat_. i., v. 1....

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 translations: (1) “striving after wind,” or “windy effort;” adopted by the Septuagint and the majority of modern interpreters; or (2) feeding on wind. Compare Hosea 12:1 : and similar phrases in Proverbs 15:14; Isaiah 44:20;...

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" is _Koheleth_,_ _a feminine noun formed from a verb _kalal_,_ _"to call" (see Introduction, § 1), and perhaps better rendered" Convener" or "Debater." It is found nowhere else but in this book, where it occurs three times in this chapter (Ecclesiastes 1:1, Ecclesiastes 1:2,...

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 of them; and did attain to a very great knowledge of them, so that he could speak of them to the instruction of others; see 1 Kings 4:33; and all that were done by men, by their head, or by their hands; all that were written or wrought by them; all their philosophical works and experiments, and all their mechanic operations; as well as all their good and bad works, in a moral sense; so the Targum, "I saw all the deeds of the children of men, which are done under the sun in this world;'' AND, BEHOLD, ALL [IS] VANITY AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT; not only the things known, but the knowledge of them; it is mere vanity, there is nothing solid and substantial in it, or that

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 (Ecclesiastes 1:12) Ecclesiastes 1:1. In the general introduction we have already referred to the opening verses as giving the information who the author is and what is the object of his treatise. So sure is the critical school that Solomon is not the king mentioned that one says “the fact that Solomon is not the author, but is introduced in a literary figure, has become such an axiom of the present day interpretation of the book, that no extended argument to prove

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 1:12), absorption in pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1), the study of human nature (Ecclesiastes 2:12), the acquisition of wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:18), alike fail to yield satisfaction. After all his experience the only

VANITY. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:2. VEXATION OF SPIRIT. feeding on wind. The expression occurs nine times (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesia

_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 Hebrew and we must read "VANITY AND FEEDING UPON WIND." The phrase has its parallel in Hosea 12:2 ("Ephraim feedeth on wind") and Isaiah 44:20 ("feedeth on ashes") and expresses, with a bold vividness, the sense of emptiness which accompanies unsatisfied desire. Most commentators, however, prefer the rendering "striving after the wind" or "windy effort," but "feeding" expresses, it is believed, the meaning of the Hebrew more closely. The LXX. gives προαίρεσις πνεύματος (resolve of wind, _i.e._fleeting and unsubstantial). Symmachus gives βόσκησις and Aquila νομή (feeding). The word in question occurs