Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 1:2–8

²“Futility^b of futilities,”

says the Teacher,

“futility of futilities!

Everything is futile!”

³What does a man gain from all his labor,

at which he toils under the sun?

⁴Generations come and generations go,

but the earth remains forever.

⁵The sun rises and the sun sets;

it hurries back to where it rises.

⁶The wind blows southward,

then turns northward;

round and round it swirls,

ever returning on its course.

⁷All the rivers flow into the sea,

yet the sea is never full;

to the place from which the streams come,

there again they flow.

⁸All things are wearisome,

more than one can describe;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear content with hearing.

Footnotes

b 1:2 Literally vapor or breath; the Hebrew words translated in Ecclesiastes as forms of futile or fleeting can also be translated as vanity or meaningless.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Futility	הֲבֵ֤ל	hă·ḇêl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1892 vapour, breath
of futilities	הֲבָלִים֙	hă·ḇā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1892 vapour, breath
says	אָמַ֣ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
the Teacher	קֹהֶ֔לֶת	qō·he·leṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H6953 collector
futility	הֲבֵ֥ל	hă·ḇêl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1892 vapour, breath
of futilities	הֲבָלִ֖ים	hă·ḇā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1892 vapour, breath
Everything	הַכֹּ֥ל	hak·kōl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
is futile	הָֽבֶל׃	hā·ḇel	Noun - masculine singular	H1892 vapour, breath

Ecclesiastes 1:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
does a man	לָֽאָדָ֑ם	lā·’ā·ḏām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
gain	יִּתְר֖וֹן	yiṯ·rō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H3504 advantage, profit
from all	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
his labor	עֲמָל֔וֹ	‘ă·mā·lōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5999 trouble, labour, toil
at which he toils	שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל	še·ya·‘ă·mōl	Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5998 labour, toil
under	תַּ֥חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
the sun	הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃	haš·šā·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun

Ecclesiastes 1:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Generations	דּ֤וֹר	dō·wr	Noun - masculine singular	H1755 period, generation, dwelling
come	הֹלֵךְ֙	hō·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and generations	וְד֣וֹר	wə·ḏō·wr	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H1755 period, generation, dwelling
go	בָּ֔א	bā	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
but the earth	וְהָאָ֖רֶץ	wə·hā·’ā·reṣ	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
remains	עֹמָֽדֶת׃	‘ō·mā·ḏeṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
forever	לְעוֹלָ֥ם	lə·‘ō·w·lām	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity

Ecclesiastes 1:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The sun	הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ	haš·še·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
rises	וְזָרַ֥ח	wə·zā·raḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2224 rise, come forth
and the sun	הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ	haš·šā·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
sets	וּבָ֣א	ū·ḇā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
it hurries back	שׁוֹאֵ֛ף	šō·w·’êp̄	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7602 gasp, pant, pant after, long for
to	מְקוֹמ֔וֹ	mə·qō·w·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
where	שָֽׁם׃	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
it	ה֖וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
rises	זוֹרֵ֥חַֽ	zō·w·rê·aḥ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H2224 rise, come forth

Ecclesiastes 1:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The wind	הָר֔וּחַ	hā·rū·aḥ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7307 breath, wind, spirit
blows	הוֹלֵךְ֙	hō·w·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
southward	דָּר֔וֹם	dā·rō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H1864 south
then turns	וְסוֹבֵ֖ב	wə·sō·w·ḇêḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
northward	צָפ֑וֹן	ṣā·p̄ō·wn	Noun - feminine singular	H6828 north
round	סוֹבֵ֤ב׀	sō·w·ḇêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
round	סֹבֵב֙	sō·ḇêḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5437 turn about, go around, surround
it swirls	הוֹלֵ֣ךְ	hō·w·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
ever returning	שָׁ֥ב	šāḇ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
on	וְעַל־	wə·‘al-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5921 height
course	סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו	sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯāw	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H5439 circuit, round about

Ecclesiastes 1:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
All	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the rivers	הַנְּחָלִים֙	han·nə·ḥā·lîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
flow	הֹלְכִ֣ים	hō·lə·ḵîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
into	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the sea	הַיָּ֔ם	hay·yām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3220 sea
yet the sea	וְהַיָּ֖ם	wə·hay·yām	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3220 sea
is never	אֵינֶ֣נּוּ	’ê·nen·nū	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H369 nothing, nought
full	מָלֵ֑א	mā·lê	Adjective - masculine singular	H4392 full
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the place	מְק֗וֹם	mə·qō·wm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4725 standing, spot, condition
from which the streams	שֶׁ֤הַנְּחָלִים֙	še·han·nə·ḥā·lîm	Pronoun - relative, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5158 torrent, torrent-valley, wady
come	הֹֽלְכִ֔ים	hō·lə·ḵîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
there	שָׁ֛ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
again	שָׁבִ֖ים	šā·ḇîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
they	הֵ֥ם	hêm	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
flow	לָלָֽכֶת׃	lā·lā·ḵeṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk

Ecclesiastes 1:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
All	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
things	הַדְּבָרִ֣ים	had·də·ḇā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
are wearisome	יְגֵעִ֔ים	yə·ḡê·‘îm	Adjective - masculine plural	H3023 weary, wearisome
more	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
than one	אִ֖ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
can describe	לְדַבֵּ֑ר	lə·ḏab·bêr	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H1696 speak
the eye	עַ֙יִן֙	‘a·yin	Noun - common singular	H5869 eye
is not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
satisfied	תִשְׂבַּ֥ע	ṯiś·ba‘	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7646 be sated, satisfied, surfeited
with seeing	לִרְא֔וֹת	lir·’ō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7200 see
nor	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
the ear	אֹ֖זֶן	’ō·zen	Noun - feminine singular	H241 ear
content	תִמָּלֵ֥א	ṯim·mā·lê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H4390 be full, fill
with hearing	מִשְּׁמֹֽעַ׃	miš·šə·mō·a‘	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H8085 hear