Ecclesiastes 4:7 kjv
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4:7 nkjv
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:
Ecclesiastes 4:7 niv
Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
Ecclesiastes 4:7 esv
Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Ecclesiastes 4:7 nlt
I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 1:2 | "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "vanity of vanities! All is vanity." | Introduction of the theme of hevel |
| Ecc 1:3 | "What profit has a man from all his labor which he toils under the sun?" | Links labor "under the sun" to lack of profit |
| Ecc 1:9 | "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun." | Repetitive nature of earthly life |
| Ecc 2:11 | "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done... indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind." | Qoheleth's own pursuits proved futile |
| Ecc 2:17 | "So I hated life, because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me..." | Intense personal conclusion of futility |
| Ecc 3:16 | "Moreover I saw under the sun: in the place of justice, wickedness was there..." | Observation of moral decay |
| Ecc 4:1 | "Again I saw all the oppression that is done under the sun." | Preceding example of observed injustice |
| Psa 39:5 | "Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is pure vanity. Selah." | Human life is brief and futile |
| Psa 62:9 | "Surely men of low degree are vanity, men of high degree are a lie..." | Humans are but a breath |
| Isa 40:23 | "He brings princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless." | Worldly power is transient |
| Jer 2:5 | "...what injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and become nothing?" | Idols are futile, lead to emptiness |
| Hos 8:7 | "For they sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind..." | Futility of actions against God |
| Jas 4:14 | "whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." | Life is fleeting like a vapor |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | "For ‘all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away’" | Brevity of human existence and glory |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" | Worldly wisdom is shown as futile |
| 1 Cor 3:19 | "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." | God's perspective on human wisdom's vanity |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ... I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." | Earthly gains become worthless for Christ |
| Col 3:1-2 | "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is... Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." | Counterpoint to "under the sun" observations |
| Luke 12:19-21 | Parable of the Rich Fool, whose stored wealth profits him nothing in eternity. | Vanity of accumulating earthly possessions without God |
| Matt 6:19-20 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Earthly treasures are subject to decay/loss |
| 1 Tim 6:7-8 | "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." | Material possessions offer no lasting value |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." | Distinction between temporary earthly and eternal heavenly |
Ecclesiastes 4 verses
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 4:7 states, "Again I saw vanity under the sun." This verse serves as a transition and a recurring summary statement in the Preacher's (Qoheleth's) observations. It signifies that he returned to considering earthly existence, and once again, his scrutiny of life, specifically limited to the human perspective without divine revelation, led him to conclude that it is characterized by "hevel" – a profound sense of futility, emptiness, meaninglessness, or transience. This repetition emphasizes the pervasiveness of this conclusion throughout his journey of observation.
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 4 continues Qoheleth's detailed examination of life's complexities and disillusionments. Leading up to verse 7, he has already lamented various forms of human toil and suffering that lack ultimate satisfaction: oppression that brings tears without comfort (Ecc 4:1-3), envy that drives endless labor (Ecc 4:4), and the foolishness of both the idle person who perishes and the zealous but isolated laborer (Ecc 4:5-6). Verse 7 acts as a thematic interlude, a summation that reinforces the Preacher's foundational belief in the overall vanity of these earthly struggles. It then directly precedes the specific example of a solitary, covetous rich man (Ecc 4:8) who works endlessly with no heir or companion, providing a concrete illustration of the "vanity under the sun" that Qoheleth has observed repeatedly. The broader context of the book Ecclesiastes is an intellectual journey to find ultimate meaning in life "under the sun," only to find that all pursuits apart from God result in a sense of emptiness and futility, eventually culminating in the wise conclusion that true meaning lies in fearing God and obeying His commands.
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Word analysis
- Again (Hebrew: שָׁבְתִּי, shavti, lit. "I returned" or "I turned"): This verb signifies a return, a repetition of action or thought. It suggests that Qoheleth's observation is not a new isolated incident but rather a reconfirmation or renewed focus on a theme he has explored before. It highlights the cyclical and pervasive nature of the vanity he observes in life.
- I saw (Hebrew: רָאִיתִי, ra'iti, from רָאָה, ra'ah, "to see, perceive, understand"): This indicates a direct, personal observation. Qoheleth's conclusions are based on empirical evidence, what he himself has witnessed in the world, emphasizing his role as an observer and investigator of human experience.
- Vanity (Hebrew: הֶבֶל, hevel): This is the key word of Ecclesiastes, appearing 38 times. Its root meaning is "breath," "vapor," or "fume," suggesting something ephemeral, insubstantial, fleeting, and ultimately, meaningless. It doesn't necessarily imply evil or worthlessness, but rather a lack of lasting substance, ultimate purpose, or lasting satisfaction when viewed solely from an earthly perspective. It points to the transience and futility of life without an eternal reference point.
- Under the sun (Hebrew: תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, tachat ha-shemesh): This is the characteristic phrase of Ecclesiastes, appearing 29 times. It explicitly defines the scope of Qoheleth's inquiry as human life lived solely within the confines of the earthly realm, excluding divine intervention, revelation, or an eternal afterlife. It frames his observations as being from a human, material, and temporal perspective, where lasting significance often proves elusive.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Again I saw": This phrase signals a continuity in the Preacher's investigative process. It tells the reader that he is returning to his foundational method—personal observation—and reaffirms that the following insights are part of his ongoing research into the nature of existence. It also acts as a literary marker, introducing new illustrations of the same recurring problem.
- "Vanity under the sun": This core phrase of Ecclesiastes encapsulates the Preacher's fundamental premise. "Vanity" (hevel) describes the ultimate lack of substantial meaning or lasting satisfaction, while "under the sun" strictly limits this conclusion to human endeavors and perspectives that exclude the transcendent God. Together, they form a summary indictment of a life pursued purely for temporal ends. The phrase emphasizes that Qoheleth's sense of futility arises specifically when God is excluded or when one's perspective is confined to only what is earthly and temporal.
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Bonus section
The repeated use of "I saw" (Eccl 1:14; 2:11, 12, 13, 17; 3:10, 16; 4:1, 4, 7; 5:13, 18; 6:1; 8:10, 15; 9:11) throughout Ecclesiastes underscores Qoheleth's empirical methodology. His conclusions are not merely theoretical or speculative but are grounded in lived experience and keen observation of human behavior and its outcomes. This continuous observational posture leads him back to the "hevel" (vanity) paradigm, making "Ecclesiastes 4:7" a potent summary of his ongoing discoveries and disillusionments. This phrase effectively resets the analytical lens for the next series of observations.
Ecclesiastes 4 7 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 4:7 serves as a crucial reiteration and structural marker for Qoheleth's exploration of human existence. By stating "Again I saw vanity under the sun," he emphasizes that his investigations continually lead back to the same dispiriting conclusion: that much of human striving, particularly when viewed without God's ultimate purpose in mind, lacks ultimate significance or lasting satisfaction. This verse is not merely a complaint; it sets the stage for the specific example of folly and isolated toil that follows. It highlights Qoheleth's commitment to observing the harsh realities of life and consistently finding an underlying emptiness in pursuits driven by selfishness, envy, or material gain alone. It undergirds the book's central message that true meaning transcends the temporal.