Ecclesiastes 12:8 kjv
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 nkjv
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."
Ecclesiastes 12:8 niv
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
Ecclesiastes 12:8 esv
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 nlt
"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless."
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eccl. 1:2 | Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. | Summary of Ecclesiastes' theme |
| Eccl. 1:14 | I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a vexation of spirit. | Futility of human labor |
| Eccl. 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. | Reflection on pleasure and labor |
| Eccl. 3:19 | For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts, the one dies, the other dies! They all have the same breath, and man has no more advantage than the beasts; all is vanity. | Equality in death without God |
| Ps. 39:5, 11 | Behold, you have made my days like handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath. ... Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath. When reproofs bring Your chastening against iniquity, You consume his strength like a moth. Yes, every man is vanity. | Transience of life |
| Ps. 144:4 | Man is like a flash of breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. | The fleeting nature of life |
| Prov. 20:19 | Whoever walks about spreading slander is revealing secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a matter hidden. | The futility of gossip |
| Isa. 40:6-8 | All flesh is grass, and all its faithfulness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers; the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers; the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | Comparison of human and God's word |
| Rom. 8:20 | For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. | Creation's groaning in futility |
| 1 Cor. 15:14 | And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. | Consequence of resurrection denied |
| 1 Cor. 15:17 | And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. | Importance of Christ's resurrection |
| 1 Cor. 15:58 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. | Steadfastness in the Lord's work |
| Phil. 2:16 | ...holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. | Hope in Christ's work |
| Gal. 5:4 | You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. | Fall from grace |
| Col. 2:18, 23 | Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, . . . These have indeed a show of wisdom in self-made religion and asceticism and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. | False piety |
| Heb. 12:1 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. | Endurance in the Christian race |
| 1 Pet. 1:24-25 | for, "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass; the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you. | Enduring word of God |
| 1 John 2:17 | And the world is passing away, and also its lust. But the one who does the will of God abides forever. | The transience of the world |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | God's eternal plan |
| Matt. 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. | Heavenly vs. earthly treasures |
Ecclesiastes 12 verses
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Meaning
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. The preacher concludes his reflection on earthly existence by stating that everything experienced under the sun is ultimately temporary and without lasting substance or ultimate significance when viewed apart from God.
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 12 serves as the concluding chapter of the book, summing up the overarching theme. Verse 8 directly precedes the preacher's final exhortations and blessings. The entire book grapples with the perceived meaninglessness and transience of life lived "under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Solomon, under the persona of the Preacher, explores wisdom, pleasure, toil, and human endeavors, finding them all ultimately to be vanity without a divine perspective. This verse is a summary statement, bringing together all the explorations of the book and reinforcing the ultimate futility of worldly pursuits divorced from God and eternity.
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Word Analysis
Hebrew: הֶבֶל (hevel)
- Transliteration: hevel
- Meaning: vapor, breath, mist, vanity, emptiness, futility, transience. It implies something that is fleeting, insubstantial, and ultimately produces no lasting result or benefit.
- Usage in Scripture: Appears frequently in Ecclesiastes, often translated as "vanity" or "emptiness." It evokes the image of breath in a cold room—seen, but quickly disappearing. It’s also used for idols in Isaiah 44:9-10, highlighting their powerlessness and emptiness.
- Significance: This word is central to the entire book, encapsulating the Preacher’s observation that worldly endeavors, achievements, and even life itself, lack ultimate significance and permanence when separated from God's eternal purpose.
Hebrew: כֹּל (kol)
- Transliteration: kol
- Meaning: all, every, whole.
- Significance: Emphasizes the totality of the observation; everything that is experienced or pursued under the sun, apart from divine perspective, falls into this category of emptiness.
Structure and Repetition: The phrase "הֶבֶל הֲבָלִים" (hevel havalim) is a construct state of "vanity of vanities." This intensifies the meaning, suggesting the most intense form of vanity or utter emptiness. This structure amplifies the message and highlights its paramount importance. It is a classic example of Hebrew intensification, similar to "holy of holies" (kodesh kodashim).
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Bonus Section
The Preacher’s ultimate conclusion, seen in verse 13, is to "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." This critical follow-up statement reframes the entire discourse on vanity. The "vanity" is not in existence itself, but in a life lived absent from God's purpose and commands. The temporary nature of all things under the sun becomes meaningful when understood in relation to an eternal God and His plan. Therefore, the vanity is in the pursuit of ephemeral things as if they were eternal, or in attempting to find ultimate satisfaction apart from the Creator. This verse is a profound statement of existential analysis, pointing toward the spiritual necessity of a divine anchor for all human endeavor to have true and lasting significance.
Ecclesiastes 12 8 Commentary
The statement "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" acts as a stark and definitive conclusion to the Preacher's profound exploration of life's experiences. It’s not a counsel of despair, but a call to re-evaluate priorities. The Preacher has meticulously demonstrated how every aspect of human endeavor – from wisdom and pleasure to toil and wealth – ultimately proves fleeting and insubstantial when viewed without an eternal perspective. The repetition of "vanity" underscores the absolute nature of this observation. Without God as the anchor, life’s pursuits lack ultimate meaning and enduring value. True meaning and lasting fulfillment are found not in the temporal achievements of this world, but in obedience to God and an eternal outlook, as highlighted in the concluding verses of the chapter (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), which emphasize fearing God and keeping His commandments as the entirety of man.