Ecclesiastes 1:14-2:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Solomon, having asserted in general that all is vanity, and having given some general proofs of it, now takes the most effectual method to evince the truth of it, 1. By his own experience; he tried them all, and found them vanity. 2. By an induction of particulars; and here he begins with that which bids fairest of all to be the happiness of a reasonable creature, and that is knowledge and learning; if this be vanity, every thing else must needs be so. Now as to this, I. Solomon tells us here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:14

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,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:14

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., 5: 1. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Section 1. Vanity of striving for wisdom and knowledge. Esther 1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem . Koheleth relates his own experience as king, in accordance with his assumption of the person of Solomon. The use of the past tense in this verse is regarded by many as strong evidence against the Solomonic authorship of the book. "I have been king" (not "I have become king," as Gratz would translate) is a statement introducing the supposed speaker, not as a reigning... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:14

Here is the result of this examination of human actions. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. In his varied experience nothing had escaped his notice. And behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit ; reuth ruach ; afflictio spiritus (Vulgate); προαίρεσις πνεύματος , "choice of spirit," or, "wind"; νομὴ ἀνέμου (Aquila and Theodotion); βοσκήσις ἀνέμου , "feeding on wind" (Symmachus). This last translation, or "striving after wind," seems to be most... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:14

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 1:14-15

Ecclesiastes 1:14-15. 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 breaking to a man’s spirit. That which is crooked, &c. All our knowledge serves only to discover our miseries, but is utterly insufficient to remove them; it cannot rectify those disorders which are either in our own hearts and lives, or in the men and things of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Lessons from experience (1:12-2:26)Writing as Solomon, the author now looks back and describes the experiences of a truly wise and wealthy man who searched for a meaning to life. First he tried the study of wisdom, but it led only to misery and frustration. Some things could not be made to fit any sort of consistent pattern; others, which in theory may have solved some problems, in practice did not exist (12-15). His learning and experience enabled him to tell the difference between wisdom and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 1:14

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 , Ecclesiastes 4:6 , Ecclesiastes 4:16 ; Ecclesiastes 6:9 .) spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 1:14

14. The reason is here given why investigation into man's "works" is only "sore travail" (Ecclesiastes 1:13); namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ecclesiastes 1:13- :) and cannot be mended (Ecclesiastes 1:13- :). vexation of—"a preying upon" the Spirit—MAURER translates; "the pursuit of wind," as in Ecclesiastes 5:16; Hosea 12:1, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." But old versions support the English Version. read more