About Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes examines life's meaning "under the sun," concluding that true purpose is found only in fearing God.

Author: SolomonWritten: c. 940-930 BCReading time: ~2 minVerses: 12
MeaninglessnessWisdomEnjoymentDeathFear of GodPurpose

King James Version

Ecclesiastes 6

12 verses with commentary

The Vanity of Wealth Without Enjoyment

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>There is an evil which I have seen under the sun</strong> (רָעָה אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ, ra'ah asher ra'iti tachat hashemesh)—the Preacher introduces another troubling observation in his comprehensive investigation of life 'under the sun.' The Hebrew <em>ra'ah</em> denotes not moral evil but calamity, misfortune, or oppressive hardship. <strong>And it is common among men</strong...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

**VI.** (1) **Common among.—**Rather, *heavy upon. *In this section it is remarked how even when riches remain with a man to the end of his life they may fail to bring him any real happiness.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor.

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour</strong>—the triple blessing (עֹשֶׁר וּנְכָסִים וְכָבוֹד, osher u-nekhasim ve-khavod) represents comprehensive material prosperity: riches (<em>osher</em>, abundance), wealth (<em>nekhasim</em>, possessions/property), and honor (<em>khavod</em>, glory/reputation). <strong>So that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(2) **Riches, wealth, and honour.—**The three words are used together regarding Solomon (2Chronicles 1:11).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**9. light ... lamp--**prosperity; the first, the greater, and it **rejoiceth--**burns brightly, or continues, while the other, at best small, soon fails.

If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years</strong>—the Preacher constructs an extreme hypothetical representing maximum fertility and longevity, both considered covenant blessings (Deuteronomy 28:4, 11). <strong>And his soul be not filled with good</strong> (וְנַפְשׁוֹ לֹא־תִשְׂבַּע מִן־הַטּוֹבָה, ve-nafsho lo-tisba min-hatovah)—despite external blessings, inner satisfaction ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(3) That a man should be so occupied in the pursuit of riches as never to take any enjoyment from them is a common experience enough; but that the same man should have no sepulchre to preserve his name after him need not necessarily happen, so that one is tempted to think that the Preacher has some actual occurrence in his mind. **Untimely birth.**—See references. We have just had another reminisc...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. The obstinacy which attends self-conceit, produces contention, which the well-advised, thus evincing modesty, avoid.

For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

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KJV Study Commentary

Continuing the comparison, the Preacher describes the stillborn's experience: <strong>For he cometh in with vanity</strong> (כִּי־בַהֶבֶל בָּא, ki-vahevel ba)—the stillborn arrives with the same <em>hevel</em> (vapor/breath/vanity) that characterizes all earthly existence. <strong>And departeth in darkness</strong> (וּבַחֹשֶׁךְ יֵלֵךְ, u-vachoshekh yelekh)—it passes immediately from womb to grave ...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) **He.**—Rather, *it—*viz., the untimely birth.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**11. by vanity--**or, "nothingness," that is, which is vain or useless to the public (as card playing or similar vices). **gathereth ... labour--**(Compare Margin), little by little, laboriously.

Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing</strong> (גַּם־שֶׁמֶשׁ לֹא־רָאָה וְלֹא יָדָע, gam-shemesh lo-ra'ah velo yada)—the stillborn never experiences conscious life. Not seeing the sun means not experiencing earthly existence; not knowing anything means lacking consciousness entirely. <strong>This hath more rest than the other</strong> (נַחַת לָזֶה מִזֶּה, nachat lazeh mizeh...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**12. desire cometh--**is realized. **a tree of life--**or, "cause of happiness."

Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told</strong>—the Preacher extends the hypothetical to absurd extremes: two thousand years of life, vastly exceeding any biblical lifespan (even Methuselah's 969 years, Genesis 5:27). <strong>Yet hath he seen no good</strong> (וְטוֹבָה לֹא רָאָה, ve-tovah lo ra'ah)—despite unimaginable longevity, no <em>tovah</em> (good/satisfaction/blessing) is e...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **Though.**—The conjunction here used is only found again in Esther 7:4.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**13. the word--**that is, of advice, or, instruction (compare Pr 10:27; 11:31).

All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. appetite: Heb. soul

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>All the labour of man is for his mouth</strong> (כָּל־עֲמַל הָאָדָם לְפִיהוּ, kol-amal ha'adam lefihu)—human toil primarily serves basic physical sustenance. The Hebrew <em>amal</em> (labor/toil) carries connotations of wearisome, burdensome work. Despite humanity's higher capacities—intellect, creativity, spirituality—the Preacher observes that most labor serves the mundane necessity of e...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. (Compare Pr 10:11). **fountain--**or, "source of life." **to depart--**(compare Pr 1:2-4), or, "for departing," &amp;c., and so gives life.

For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>What hath the wise more than the fool?</strong> (מַה־יּוֹתֵר לֶחָכָם מִן־הַכְּסִיל)—The Preacher's question cuts to the bone: if death is the great equalizer, what advantage (<em>yōtēr</em>, 'surplus' or 'profit') does wisdom provide? The second question sharpens the irony: <strong>what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?</strong> The Hebrew phrase 'walk before the livin...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(8) **That knoweth to walk.—***Understands how to conduct himself. *But why this should be limited to the poor is not obvious.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning. **hard--**or, "harsh" (compare Hebrew: De 21:4; Jr 5:15).

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. than: Heb. than the walking of the soul

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire</strong> (טוֹב מַרְאֵה עֵינַיִם מֵהֲלָךְ־נָפֶשׁ)—Literally, 'better what the eyes see than the soul's walking.' The Hebrew <em>nephesh</em> (soul/appetite) constantly roams, craving what is absent. The Preacher advocates contentment with present realities over endless yearning for what we don't have.<br><br>Yet even this mode...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**16. dealeth--**acts with foresight. **a fool ... folly--**for want of caution.

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>That which hath been is named already</strong> (מַה־שֶּׁהָיָה כְּבָר נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ)—To 'name' something in Hebrew thought is to determine its nature and destiny. Everything that comes into existence was already predetermined by God. <strong>And it is known that it is man</strong> (<em>wĕ-nōda' ăšer-hū' ādām</em>)—humanity's identity as mortal dust (<em>ādām</em> from <em>ădāmâ</em>, 'grou...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(10) Of this difficult verse I prefer the translation, “What he is his name has been called long ago, and it is known that it is man; neither may he strive,” &c—*i.e., *the name given long ago to man (Genesis 2:7) indicates his weakness; neither can he contend with the Almighty. There may be a reference to Genesis 6:3, where a kindred word is used. **Mightier.**—The word here used is found only in...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**17. A wicked--**or, "unfaithful" **messenger falleth into mischief--**or, "by mischief," or "evil," and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Seeing there be many things that increase vanity</strong> (כִּי יֵשׁ־דְּבָרִים הַרְבֵּה מַרְבִּים הָבֶל)—The Hebrew structure emphasizes multiplication: 'many words multiplying vapor.' More talking, philosophizing, and human effort only compounds futility. <strong>What is man the better?</strong> (מַה־יֹּתֵר לָאָדָם)—Again the question of <em>yōtēr</em>, 'profit' or 'advantage.'<br><br>Thi...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **Things.**—We might also translate “words.”

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. (Compare Pr 10:17; 12:1).

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? all: Heb. the number of the days of the life of his vanity

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KJV Study Commentary

The Preacher asks a profound question: 'For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow?' The Hebrew 'mi yodea' (מִי יוֹדֵעַ, who knows) expresses epistemic humility—human beings cannot reliably discern what truly benefits them. The phrase 'vain life' uses 'hevel' (הֶבֶל, vapor/breath), Ecclesiastes' key term for temporal existence's f...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(12) **As a shadow.—**Ecclesiastes 8:13; Job 14:2. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success.

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