Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 1

Ecclesiastes 1:5

1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9The 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.10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.13And 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.14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.16I 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.17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and it risesוְזָרַ֥חve-za-RACHH2224
to rise

זָרַח (za.rach) 1) to rise, come forth, break out, arise, rise up, shine 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rise 1a2) to come out, appear

the sunהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁha-SHE-meshH8121
to minister

שְׁמַשׁ (she.mash) (Pael) to minister, serve Aramaic of she.mesh (שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ "sun" H8121)

and it goesוּבָ֣אu-VA'H0935G
to come (in): come

בּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put

the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha-SHA-meshH8121
to minister

שְׁמַשׁ (she.mash) (Pael) to minister, serve Aramaic of she.mesh (שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ "sun" H8121)

and toוְאֶ֨ל־ve-'EL-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

place itsמְקוֹמ֔וֹme-ko-MOH4725
place

מָקוֹם (ma.qom) 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of

[is] pantingשׁוֹאֵ֛ףsho-'EFH7602A
to long for

שָׁאַף (sha.aph) 1) to gasp, pant, pant after, long for, breathe heavily 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to gasp, pant after, snuff up 1a2) to gasp or pant (with desire), pant after, be eager for 1a3) to thirst for one's blood (from actions of animals) (fig)

[is] risingזוֹרֵ֥חַֽzo-RE-achH2224
to rise

זָרַח (za.rach) 1) to rise, come forth, break out, arise, rise up, shine 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rise 1a2) to come out, appear

itה֖וּאhu'H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

thereשָֽׁם׃ShamH8033G
there

שָׁם (sham) 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.