Ecclesiastes 1:4 kjv

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 nkjv

One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 niv

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 esv

A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 nlt

Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 4 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 1:4 succinctly states a fundamental contrast: the transient nature of human generations versus the enduring stability of the physical earth. It highlights the ceaseless cycle of human life – individuals and entire generations appearing and then departing, replaced by others, implying a relentless march of time. In stark opposition, the earth itself appears to remain firm, seemingly unaffected by the constant turnover of its inhabitants. This observation lays a foundational premise for the book's subsequent exploration of life's purpose and the often-perceived futility of human endeavors in the face of such relentless cycles.

Ecclesiastes 1 4 Context

Ecclesiastes 1:4 appears immediately after Qoheleth's profound declaration of "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" in Ecclesiastes 1:2. This verse provides the initial, tangible evidence for that assertion, establishing the book's central dilemma: what lasting "profit" or purpose can human life possess if individuals and entire generations continually appear and disappear, while the natural world seems to persist indefinitely? It serves as the opening illustration of the ceaseless, cyclical patterns of existence "under the sun," a theme elaborated in the subsequent verses (sun's movement, wind, rivers). The verse reflects a common ancient worldview where the physical world was perceived as a stable, unchanging stage for transient human drama, forming a stark contrast to human impermanence. Historically, it likely challenges any prevailing notions of human legacy or monumental achievements as truly everlasting, framing them instead within a short-lived generational context.

Ecclesiastes 1 4 Word analysis

• One generation: The Hebrew word is dor (דּוֹר), meaning a cycle of human life, an age, or a specific period of human habitation. It implies not merely individuals, but a collective of people living within a certain span of time, emphasizing their collective existence and eventual replacement. The phrase signifies a succession of human populations over time.
• passes away: From the Hebrew verb halak (הָלַךְ), which literally means "to go," "to walk," or "to depart." In this context, it functions as a euphemism for dying, fading, or vanishing. It conveys the idea of a natural, irreversible progression out of existence, underscoring human impermanence.
• and another generation: Again dor (דּוֹר), highlighting the identical nature of the successor generation, participating in the same cycle of birth and mortality.
• comes: From the Hebrew verb bo' (בּוֹא), meaning "to come," "to enter," "to arrive," or "to appear." It signifies the emergence of new life, the birth and development of the next cohort of humanity, immediately succeeding the previous one.
• but the earth: The Hebrew is ha'aretz (הָאָרֶץ), referring to the land, the ground, or the entire planet Earth. Here, it signifies the stable, physical cosmos, the stage upon which the human drama unfolds. It is contrasted with the volatile and short-lived human element.
• abides: From the Hebrew verb 'amad (עָמַד), meaning "to stand," "to endure," "to remain firm," or "to persist." It emphasizes stability, immovability, and continuity. This conveys the earth's apparent resistance to change in the same way human generations change.
• forever: The Hebrew word is le'olam (לְעוֹלָם), composed of the preposition 'to' (לְ) and the noun 'olam (עוֹלָם). While 'olam can denote eternity, particularly when describing God's attributes, when applied to created entities like the earth, it often means "for a very long time," "for the foreseeable future," "perpetually throughout the current age," or "as long as the present order exists." It emphasizes the earth's enduring nature relative to transient human generations, not an absolute, immutable eternity that supersedes God's ultimate creative plan for a new heavens and earth. It is permanence within the created order of the present world.

• "One generation passes away, and another generation comes": This phrase describes the ceaseless ebb and flow of human life. It signifies the cyclical nature of human existence, where each new group of people eventually disappears, only to be replaced by the next. It speaks to the relentless passage of time and the transient nature of all individual and collective human endeavors within the temporal sphere.
• "but the earth abides forever": This presents a powerful, stark contrast. The unchanging, enduring nature of the physical world provides a backdrop for the ever-changing, ephemeral existence of humanity. The earth serves as a constant stage, implying that while human actors come and go, their collective impact upon the enduring stage appears limited and fleeting, creating a sense of meaninglessness from an earthly perspective.

Ecclesiastes 1 4 Bonus section

This verse functions as an initial premise, setting up the problem statement that the rest of Ecclesiastes attempts to explore and, eventually, answer. It establishes the limited horizon of the Koheleth's early observations – things as they appear "under the sun" – before his ultimate conclusion (Ecc 12:13). The 'abides forever' for the earth, while significant for human perspective of permanence, does not contradict the broader biblical narrative of a new heavens and new earth, as its "forever" is temporal in a created sense, lasting for the current epoch rather than absolute eternity beyond divine recreation. The earth's stability ensures the continuity of natural cycles that support life, yet from the perspective of human striving for eternal impact, it only highlights human smallness.

Ecclesiastes 1 4 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:4 introduces Qoheleth’s core dilemma by highlighting the profound disparity between human fragility and the perceived steadfastness of the physical world. This verse is not a scientific treatise on the Earth's literal eternal state but an observational statement from Qoheleth's perspective "under the sun," a viewpoint limited to what is seen and experienced within this created order. Human life, in its brief generational span, is pictured as a relentless cycle of coming and going, much like the sun or wind described later. Each generation works, strives, builds, and dies, only to be replaced by another which repeats the same pattern. There seems to be no accumulated human gain or lasting individual impact beyond the immediate lifespan. The earth, in contrast, appears to persist unchanging, undisturbed by the constant turnover of its temporary inhabitants. This seemingly unceasing cycle of human transience set against cosmic permanence forms the basis for Qoheleth's initial inquiry into the futility (hevel) of life, prompting the profound question of what ultimate "profit" or meaning exists for human effort if all human existence is ultimately fleeting in comparison to the enduring material world. The observation creates a profound sense of weariness, leading to a deep quest for meaning in a world that seems indifferent to human strivings.