Ecclesiastes
Ecc 1:11a Preacher Eccl. 1:12; 7:27
Lit., the Assembly speaker, or, Collector (of sayings); Heb. Qohelet. The word was translated Ecclesiastes (meaning Assembly member) in the Septuagint; hence, the English name of the book.
Ecc 1:21a Vanity Psa. 39:5-6; Eccl. 12:8
The word can also be translated vapor, breath. So throughout the book. The contents of Ecclesiastes are a description by Solomon, after his falling away from God (1 Kings 11:1-8) and returning back to God, of the human life of fallen mankind under the sun, a life in the corrupted world (Eph. 2:12). According to this book human history, from its beginning to the present, is vanity. Through all the positive and negative experiences of the human life under the sun, Solomon was deeply impressed and occupied with the vanity of vanities of the human life under the sun in its falling away from God. Man was created by God with the highest and most noble purpose, that is, to express God in His image with His divine life and nature (Gen. 1:26 and note 3). But God’s enemy, Satan the devil, came in to inject himself as sin into the man God created for His purpose (Gen. 3:1-6). Through this fall, man and all the created things that had been committed by God to man’s dominion were brought into the slavery of corruption and made subject to vanity (Rom. 8:20-21). Thus, the human life in the corrupted world also became vanity, a chasing after wind (v. 14). The writer fully realized this and stressed this to the uttermost in his description. Yet he was not fully disappointed in this; rather, he instructed men that there is a way to escape this vanity, i.e., to come back to God and take God as man’s everything, man’s redemption, life, wealth, enjoyment, pleasure, and satisfaction (12:13), that man may still be used by God to fulfill His original purpose in creating man, for the accomplishing of God’s eternal economy.
Ecc 1:22 all
The book of Proverbs stresses the wisdom that man receives of God through his contacting of God, wisdom that teaches man how to behave in his human life. Ecclesiastes stresses the vanity of vanities of all things under the sun, as realized by man through the wisdom received from God. No matter how good, excellent, marvelous, and wonderful a thing may be, as long as it is of the old creation, it is part of the vanity of vanities under the sun. Only the new creation, which is in the heavens and not “under the sun,” is not vanity but is reality. The next book, Song of Songs, stresses that Christ is the song of songs, the satisfaction of satisfactions to human life, which is versus the vanity of vanities of all things under the sun.
Ecc 1:3a What Eccl. 2:22; 3:9
Ecc 1:3b under Eccl. 1:9, 14; 2:11, 17-20, 22; 5:18
Ecc 1:4a stands Psa. 104:5; 119:90; cf. 1 Cor. 7:31
Ecc 1:8a eye Prov. 27:20
Ecc 1:9a What Eccl. 3:15
Ecc 1:131 all
[ par. 1 2 ]
Ecc 1:131 [1] Solomon set his heart to seek and to search out all that is done under the heavens, and he observed that all the works of man under the sun are done in cycle, going on and on, remaining the same generation after generation, like the phenomena in nature (vv. 3-7). All things are wearisome, nothing is satisfying, there is nothing new, and nothing is remembered (vv. 8-11). In his conclusion after all his experiments in the human life, all is vanity and a chasing after wind (vv. 2, 14). Such a conclusion of the wise king by his wisdom may be considered a history of the vain life of a fallen man. His conclusion in this book is like a dirge to a man whose end is in misery.
Ecc 1:131 [2] All the unveilings that issued out of the writer’s experiments and searching and testing should not be considered the divine revelation from God concerning His divine purpose for human life, though they are included in the Scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They are the conclusion of the writer’s research in his experiments in the realm of the human life of fallen man under the sun. In the divine intention all the concluding words may be considered proverbs, words of wisdom, that direct fallen and aim-missing men to return to God (12:1a, 13-14) and receive Him, according to His New Testament economy, in His Son as their Redeemer and life, that they may be regenerated to be the God-men for the accomplishing of God’s eternal economy. Cf. note 11, par. 2, in Psa. 1 and note 11, par. 2, in Prov. 1.
Ecc 1:13b travail Gen. 3:18-19; Eccl. 3:10
Ecc 1:141a chasing Eccl. 1:17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9
Lit., shepherding. Alternatively, the phrase could be translated, a feeding on wind (cf. Hosea 12:1). So throughout the book.
Ecc 1:15a crooked Eccl. 7:13
Ecc 1:16a before 1 Kings 3:12-13; Eccl. 2:9
Ecc 2:11 taste
Lit., look on goodness. So throughout the book.
Ecc 2:3a under Eccl. 1:13
Ecc 2:4a built 1 Kings 9:1
Ecc 2:8a silver 1 Kings 9:28; 10:10, 27; 2 Chron. 1:15; 9:27
Ecc 2:81 concubine
The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Ecc 2:9a before Eccl. 1:16
Ecc 2:11a chasing Eccl. 1:14
Ecc 2:14a one Eccl. 2:16; 9:3
Ecc 2:17a chasing Eccl. 1:14
Ecc 2:18a leave Psa. 49:10
Ecc 2:241a eat Eccl. 3:13; 5:18; Luke 12:19
See note 121 in ch. 3.
Ecc 2:251 without
Following the Septuagint and some Hebrew MSS; other MSS read, more than I.
Ecc 2:26a chasing Eccl. 1:14
Ecc 3:5a refrain 1 Cor. 7:5
Ecc 3:7a be Amos 5:13; 1 Cor. 14:30
Ecc 3:7b speak Luke 19:40; Acts 4:20; 18:9
Ecc 3:8a love Matt. 26:7
Ecc 3:8b hate Luke 14:26; John 12:25
Ecc 3:10a travail Eccl. 1:13
Ecc 3:111 eternity
“A divinely implanted sense of purpose working through the ages, which nothing under the sun, but only God, can satisfy” (The Amplified Bible). God created man in His image and formed in him a spirit that man may receive and contain Him (Gen. 1:26 and note 3; 2:7 and note 5). In addition, God put eternity, an aspiration for something eternal, in man’s heart so that man will seek God, the eternal One. Hence, temporal things can never satisfy man; only the eternal God, who is Christ, can satisfy the deep sense of purpose in man’s heart (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18). See note 41 in S.S. 1.
Ecc 3:11a find Eccl. 8:17; Rom. 11:33
Ecc 3:121a rejoice Eccl. 3:22
[ par. 1 2 ]
Ecc 3:121 [1] In all his experiments in human life Solomon encouraged the fallen men under the sun, in accordance with God’s economy, to rejoice and do good in their lifetime and to enjoy what God has given to them, eating, drinking, and tasting enjoyment in all their labor (2:24; 3:12-13; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10). God created man for Himself, but man was seduced by Satan to give God up, and thus man became fallen. Nevertheless, God still blesses man so that he may have a good living and enjoy various material things (cf. Matt. 5:45b; 1 Tim. 6:17). By so doing God maintains the existence of the human race from generation to generation, thus affording Himself the opportunity to accomplish His redemption for fallen man, to carry out His eternal purpose in His choosing and predestinating men for the Body of Christ, and to maintain the fallen man of His old creation to be the provision for Him to bring in His new creation in Christ out of the old creation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15). This is proved by the apostle Paul’s preaching in Acts 14:15-17 and 17:24-31.
Ecc 3:121 [2] To live a life that we may testify Christ and minister Christ to others to glorify God, we need the material things and physical matters. But we should not be attracted, captured, and usurped by them. If we are usurped by them, we will suffer their vanity. We are living in the world and passing through the “vanity fair,” but we should not linger in it for its vainglory (1 John 2:15-17). Today all things of the old creation are under the slavery of corruption (Rom. 8:20-21). If we do not escape “the corruption which is in the world by lust” (2 Pet. 1:4), we will share in its vanity.
Ecc 3:13a eat Eccl. 2:24
Ecc 3:151 passed
Lit., been driven (i.e., into the past). God, in His sovereignty over all, has appointed all things that are in the present and that will be in the future and seeks to reemploy the things that took place in the past. Whatever God does will be forever; nothing can be added to it, nor can anything be taken from it, that all would fear Him that they may have His wisdom to realize the real meaning of human life (vv. 14-15).
Ecc 3:17a judge Matt. 25:32, 46; John 5:29; Rom. 2:5-6, 16; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10
Ecc 3:191 breath
Heb. ruach, different from neshamah, the word translated breath in Gen. 2:7 (see note 5 there).
Ecc 3:211 breath
Heb. ruach. See note 51 in Ezek. 37.
Ecc 3:22a rejoice Eccl. 3:12
Ecc 4:4a chasing Eccl. 1:14
Ecc 4:6a Better Prov. 17:1
Ecc 4:8a eye Prov. 27:20; 1 John 2:16
Ecc 4:9a Two Mark 6:7; cf. Gen. 2:18
Ecc 4:151 him
Referring to the old king.
Ecc 4:16a chasing Eccl. 1:14
Ecc 5:11 Guard
Solomon’s word here regarding contacting God is not with the view of encouragement but with the view of caution. This is different from the view of the apostle Paul in his encouraging the believers to approach God to receive mercy and find grace for timely help (Heb. 4:16).
Ecc 5:1b sacrifice 1 Sam. 15:22; Psa. 50:8; Prov. 15:8
Ecc 5:2a rash James 1:19
Ecc 5:4a vow Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-22
Ecc 5:4b Pay Psa. 50:14; Matt. 5:33
Ecc 5:11a eyes Prov. 27:20; Eccl. 4:8; 1 John 2:16
Ecc 5:15a womb Job 1:21; Psa. 49:17; 1 Tim. 6:7
Ecc 5:181a eat Eccl. 2:24
See note 121 in ch. 3.
Ecc 5:18b given Eccl. 3:13; 6:2; 1 Tim. 6:17
Ecc 5:201 brood
Or, remember.
Ecc 6:2a does Deut. 28:33; Luke 12:20
Ecc 6:3a stillborn Job 3:16; Psa. 58:8; Eccl. 4:3
Ecc 6:101 determined
Lit., called by its name.
Ecc 6:12a For Eccl. 3:22; 8:7
Ecc 7:1a good Prov. 22:1
Ecc 7:61 vanity
In his searching and testing all things of the human life under the sun, Solomon observed that all things are vanity of vanities, regardless of the kind of persons involved—wise or foolish, diligent or lazy, rich or poor, old or young, high or low, righteous or wicked, good or sinful, clean or unclean—and regardless of how they were born, how they worked, how they died, and what their end was (7:6, 15; 8:10, 14; 9:9; 11:8, 10; 12:8).
Ecc 7:9a angry Prov. 14:17; 16:32; James 1:19
Ecc 7:13a crooked Job 12:14; Eccl. 1:15; Isa. 14:27
Ecc 7:17a not Job 15:32; Psa. 55:23; Prov. 10:27
Ecc 7:20a sin 1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chron. 6:36; Prov. 20:9; Rom. 3:23
Ecc 8:31 join
Lit., stand.
Ecc 8:7a For Eccl. 10:14; 6:12
Ecc 8:81 breath
Or, spirit (twice).
Ecc 8:11a executed 2 Pet. 3:9; cf. Psa. 10:6; 50:21
Ecc 8:14a happen Eccl. 7:15
Ecc 8:151a eat Eccl. 2:24
See note 121 in ch. 3.
Ecc 8:161 man’s
Lit., his.
Ecc 9:3a after Eccl. 12:7; 1 Cor. 15:22
Ecc 9:5b memory Eccl. 2:16
Ecc 9:71 eat
See note 121 in ch. 3. Man should enjoy God’s provision for his living and the marriage life for man’s existence and multiplication (vv. 7-10) to replenish the earth (Gen. 1:28) that it may be possible for God to save some men in order to produce the church—the Body of Christ—which will issue in the New Jerusalem as God’s eternal enlargement and expression according to God’s eternal economy.
Ecc 9:8b oil Matt. 6:17
Ecc 9:9a Enjoy Prov. 5:18
Ecc 9:12a ensnared Isa. 24:17; Luke 21:34; 1 Tim. 3:7; 6:9
Ecc 9:14a city cf. 2 Sam. 20:15-22
Ecc 10:14a No Eccl. 8:7; 6:12
Ecc 10:16a young Isa. 3:4
Ecc 10:191 They
I.e., the princes of v. 16.
Ecc 10:20a heaven cf. Luke 12:2-3
Ecc 11:2a Give Psa. 112:9; Luke 6:30
Ecc 11:4a not Prov. 20:4
Ecc 11:5b formed Psa. 139:14-15
Ecc 11:8a darkness Eccl. 12:2
Ecc 11:91 young
In his advice to young men, the writer says that they should endeavor to enjoy the human life in their youth in the light of God’s judgment (12:14 and note) in order to remove vexation from their heart and put away evil from their flesh (vv. 9-10). He also advises them to remember their Creator while they are young and not hesitate in doing this until old age comes (12:1).
Ecc 11:9a judgment Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 2:5-11; Heb. 9:27
Ecc 12:1a Creator Gen. 1:1; Isa. 40:28; 43:15; Rom. 1:25; 1 Pet. 4:19
Ecc 12:1b youth Prov. 22:6; Lam. 3:27
Ecc 12:11 evil
The days when a person is old and near death, when he has no more pleasure in living.
Ecc 12:21 darkened
In man’s old age, the bright environment, with the three lights created by God and the artificial lights made by man, becomes gloomy, and the pleasant atmosphere of the clear sky is cloudy. The hands (the keepers of the house—man’s body—cf. 2 Cor. 5:1-8) tremble (v. 3a); the loins (the men of strength) are bent (v. 3b); the teeth (the women who grind) become few (v. 3c); the eyes (those who look out of the windows) become dim (v. 3d); and the ears become dull to sound (v. 4a). One awakens early in the morning (v. 4b); the vocal cords (the daughters of song) become low (v. 4c); and one is afraid of what is high (v. 5a) and is terrified while walking (v. 5b). The hair becomes white (the almond tree blossoms—v. 5c), and one is unable to bear any burden, even a burden as small as a grasshopper (v. 5d). No medicine can keep the old man away from death, and mourners attend his funeral (v. 5e). The corpse—the spinal cord (the silver cord), the head (the golden bowl), the lungs (the pitcher), and the heart (the wheel)—decays (v. 6). The body made of dust returns to the earth, and the breath returns to God who gave it (v. 7; Gen. 2:7). This indicates that the entire human being with his human life apart from God is nothing but vanity of vanity (v. 8).
Ecc 12:4a song 2 Sam. 19:35
Ecc 12:7a dust Gen. 3:19; Job 34:15; Psa. 90:3
Ecc 12:7b breath Eccl. 3:21
Ecc 12:7c gave Gen. 2:7; Acts 17:25
Ecc 12:8a Vanity Psa. 62:9; Eccl. 1:2
Ecc 12:9a proverbs 1 Kings 4:32
Ecc 12:11a Shepherd Psa. 23:1; John 10:14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4
Ecc 12:131a Fear Deut. 6:2; 10:12
The writer’s concluding word leads men to fear God that God may eventually show them His New Testament economy concerning the producing of His church, the Body of Christ, which consummates in the New Jerusalem as God’s eternal enlargement and expression.
Ecc 12:141a judgment Eccl. 11:9; Matt. 12:36; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 2:16; 14:10, 12; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10
God will judge men living in the present age in relation to their deeds, even every secret thing, according to whether it is good or evil, and He will judge the unbelieving dead at His great white throne in relation to their eternal destiny (Rev. 20:11-15).