Ecclesiastes 1:8

8. This verse refers to these phenomena of nature.

Things Hebrew, words. In several ancient languages “word” has a secondary meaning thing, affair. But here the primary meaning is better “ All words are ineffectual” to tell the contrast between ever renewing nature and frail, transient man. Countless things addressed to the eye or ear illustrate it. The generations of man “haste stormfully” across the scene and return no more. But in every department of inanimate nature there is renewal. The sun returns to the East, and rejoices as a strong man to run its race; the wind comes freshly to its course; the water is renewed in the river channels.