Ecclesiastes 1:2 kjv
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 nkjv
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
Ecclesiastes 1:2 niv
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
Ecclesiastes 1:2 esv
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 nlt
"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless!"
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jas 4:14 | Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time... | Life's extreme brevity and impermanence. |
| Ps 39:5 | Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! | Human existence is fleeting and insignificant without God. |
| Job 7:7 | Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good. | Acknowledges life's transient nature. |
| Ps 144:4 | Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. | Likens human life to fleeting, insubstantial things. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls..." | The impermanence of all human glory and life. |
| Isa 40:6-8 | All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the wild flower's bloom... | Reinforces the transitory nature of human existence. |
| Ps 90:9-10 | For all our days pass away under your wrath... Their span is seventy years... | Days quickly vanish, lifespan is limited. |
| 1 Tim 6:7 | For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. | The futility of accumulating material wealth. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool who stored up treasures but died that night. | The vanity of seeking security in earthly riches. |
| Matt 6:19-20 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy... | Earthly treasures are perishable and fleeting. |
| Prov 23:5 | When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for it suddenly sprouts wings... | Wealth's unpredictable and fleeting nature. |
| 1 John 2:17 | And the world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God abides forever. | The passing nature of the world versus eternal purpose. |
| 1 Cor 7:31 | And those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. | Emphasizes the transient nature of current worldly forms. |
| Col 3:1-2 | If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated... | Contrasts earthly pursuits with eternal, heavenly ones. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I count as loss for the sake of Christ... | Paul counts worldly achievements as worthless compared to Christ. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them... declaring that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. | Believers view themselves as temporary residents on earth. |
| Ps 62:9 | Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. | All humans, regardless of status, are fleeting. |
| Ecc 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done... and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind... | Echoes the verse's theme after describing specific pursuits. |
| Ecc 2:22-23 | For what does a man get for all the toil and strain... all his days are full of sorrow...? | Highlights the frustration and pain associated with futile labor. |
| Job 14:1-2 | Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers... | Life is short and full of troubles, ultimately ending. |
| Ps 103:15-16 | As for man, his days are like grass... for the wind passes over it, and it is gone... | Demonstrates how quickly human existence fades. |
| John 6:27 | Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life... | Jesus directs listeners to eternal, non-fading pursuits. |
Ecclesiastes 1 verses
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 1:2 declares a profound philosophical premise by the Preacher, stating that "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." The term "vanity" translates from the Hebrew "hevel" (הֶבֶל), which signifies breath, vapor, something fleeting, empty, elusive, absurd, or ultimately meaningless. The repetition and grammatical construction "vanity of vanities" act as a superlative, meaning "the utmost vanity," "most fleeting," or "supremely futile." It conveys an extreme sense of transience and lack of enduring substance in all earthly pursuits and achievements when viewed purely from a human, "under the sun" perspective, apart from God. The concluding phrase "all is vanity" extends this comprehensive declaration to everything within human experience.
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Context
Ecclesiastes 1:2 stands as the core thesis statement for the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Coming directly after the introduction of "the words of Koheleth, the son of David, king in Jerusalem" (Eccl 1:1), this verse immediately plunges the reader into the central theme. The book of Ecclesiastes, often attributed to King Solomon due to the introductory verses, is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament. It's a profound philosophical exploration of life's meaning, observing human existence "under the sun"—meaning life purely from an earthly, human-centered perspective, often without explicit reference to divine intervention until later. The Preacher rigorously examines common human pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, labor, wealth, status—only to conclude that without a proper vertical, God-centered perspective, all these efforts ultimately yield no lasting satisfaction or eternal value. This opening verse is a deliberate and shocking declaration to set the tone for the challenging, often melancholic, yet ultimately redemptive journey of inquiry that follows.
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Word analysis
- Vanity (הֶבֶל - hevel): This central Hebrew term means "breath," "vapor," "mist," "mere puff of air," implying something fleeting, insubstantial, ephemeral, transient, empty, or absurd. It is a powerful metaphor for lack of substance and ultimate futility. It doesn't necessarily mean "pointless" in a nihilistic sense, but rather "unsubstantial," "enigmatic," or "that which cannot be grasped or held." The name of Adam's son, Abel (Hevel), whose life was short and tragically ended (Gen 4), powerfully echoes this word's meaning, indicating how quickly life can dissipate.
- of vanities (הֲבָלִים - havalim): The plural form combined with "hevel" (hevel havalim) is a Hebrew grammatical construction forming a superlative. Like "Holy of Holies" means "most holy," "hevel havalim" means "vanity of vanities," signifying "the utmost vanity," "supremely fleeting," "utterly insubstantial," or "absolutely futile." It emphasizes the intensity and comprehensive nature of this state.
- says (אָמַר - amar): Denotes a pronouncement or declaration. It signifies a definitive statement made by one in authority or with considered opinion, here by the Preacher, making the verse a thesis statement.
- the Preacher (קֹהֶלֶת - Koheleth): The Hebrew title means "gatherer," "assembler," referring to someone who gathers people together, usually to teach them. Hence, "Preacher" or "Teacher" is appropriate. This figure is a philosophical observer and teacher, likely King Solomon, presenting his reflections on life's mysteries and disappointments. His identity adds weight and credibility to the radical conclusion drawn in this verse.
- all (הַכֹּל - hakol): This comprehensive term emphasizes universality. It means "everything," "the whole of it," implying that every single thing and every aspect of life "under the sun"—human endeavors, accomplishments, pleasures, wisdom, labor, wealth—is included in this verdict of futility. This makes the declaration sweeping and without exception from the limited, earthly perspective.
- Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher: This phrase serves as the author's powerful opening thesis. It is a hyperbole used to immediately convey the radical and absolute nature of his conclusion regarding life's transient and often perplexing nature. It signals the deeply contemplative and challenging tone that will characterize the book's investigation.
- Vanity of vanities, all is vanity: The repetition acts as a strong literary device. The first instance sets the initial shock and central theme, while the second repetition immediately reinforces it, emphasizing the comprehensive reach of "all is vanity." This rhythmic declaration drills the concept into the reader, leaving no room for misunderstanding the central point about the pervasive emptiness of worldly pursuits.
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Bonus section
The profound implications of "hevel" extend beyond mere emptiness; it signifies something that is both elusive and contradictory. Like trying to grasp mist, human attempts to find ultimate meaning or control over life "under the sun" are always frustrated. The irony lies in humanity's persistent struggle to secure what is inherently unsecurable and grasp what is fundamentally ungraspable. This introductory statement by the Preacher effectively deconstructs common assumptions about life's purpose and satisfaction, compelling the reader to re-evaluate their pursuits and priorities. The Preacher's journey in Ecclesiastes becomes a profound theological quest that ultimately transcends this initial "hevel" pronouncement, arriving at a conclusion rooted in reverence for God and obedience to His will as the only true antidote to existential futility.
Ecclesiastes 1 2 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 1:2 is not an expression of nihilism, but rather a provocative thesis statement to compel deeper inquiry. The Preacher's declaration of "hevel"—ultimate transience or elusive quality—serves as the anchor for his experiential journey through life. He investigates every possible avenue for human satisfaction, from pleasure and wisdom to wealth and hard work, demonstrating through direct experience how each, when sought as an end in itself, proves to be "hevel." The repeated phrase underscores an undeniable, inescapable reality from a human vantage point. This jarring start is designed to dismantle human self-sufficiency and the illusion of permanent satisfaction found in worldly achievements. It prepares the reader for the Preacher's eventual conclusion, which points towards the only enduring meaning found in fearing God and keeping His commandments, acknowledging that only a God-centered life transcends the inherent "hevel" of all else. For instance, chasing wealth to find lasting happiness is "hevel" because wealth can be lost, and death takes it all (Ecc 5:10; 1 Tim 6:7); similarly, great accomplishments can be forgotten or passed to an unworthy successor (Ecc 2:18-19).