Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 1:3
What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?
3. What profit hath a man ] The question is, it is obvious, as in the analogous question of Mat 16:26, the most emphatic form of a negation. For “all his labour which he taketh” read all his toil which he toileth, the Hebrew giving the emphasis of the combination of the verb with its cognate substantive. The Debater sums up his experience of life in this, “There is toil, and the toil is profitless.” The word for “profit,” not meeting us elsewhere in the Hebrew of the O. T., occurs ten times in Ecclesiastes. Its strict meaning is “that which remains,” the surplus, if any, of the balance-sheet of life. It was, probably, one of the words which the commerce of the Jews, after the Captivity, had brought into common use. The question is in substance, almost in form, identical with that of our times “Is life worth living?”
under the sun ] The phrase thus used, occurring 29 times in Ecclesiastes, has nothing like it in the language of other books of the Old Testament. It is essentially Greek in character. Thus we have in Euripides, Hippol. 1220,
.
“All creatures that the wide earth nourisheth
Which the sun looks on radiant, and mankind.”
And Theognis, 168,
,
, .
“One thing is certain, none of all mankind,
On whom the sun looks down, gains happiness.”
Our English “sublunary” may be noted as conveying an analogous idea.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
What profit … – The question often repeated is the great practical inquiry of the book; it receives its final answer in Ecc 12:13-14. When this question was asked, the Lord had not yet spoken Mat 11:28. The word profit (or pre-eminence) is opposed to vanity.
Hath a man – Rather, hath man.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. What profit hath a man] What is the sum of the real good he has gained by all his toils in life? They, in themselves, have neither made him contented nor happy.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
What profit? or, as others render it, What remainder? What real and abiding benefit hath a man by it? None at all. All is unprofitable, as to the attainment of that happiness which Solomon here is, and all men in the world are, inquiring after.
His labour, Heb.
his toilsome labour, both of body and mind, in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things.
Which he taketh under the sun; in all sublunary or worldly matters, which are usually transacted in the day time, or by the light of the sun. By this restriction he implies that that profit and happiness which in vain is sought for in this lower world, is really and only to be found in heavenly places and things.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. What profit . . . labourthatis, “What profit” as to the chief good (Mt16:26). Labor is profitable in its proper place (Gen 2:15;Gen 3:19; Pro 14:23).
under the sunthat is,in this life, as opposed to the future world. The phrase oftenrecurs, but only in Ecclesiastes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?] This is a general proof of the vanity of all things, since there is no profit arises to a man of all his labour; for, though it is put by way of question, it carries in it a strong negative. All things a man enjoys he gets by labour; for man, through sin, is doomed and born unto it, Job 5:7; he gets his bread by the sweat of his brow, which is a part of the curse for sin; and the wealth and riches got by a diligent hand, with a divine blessing, are got by labour; and so all knowledge of natural and civil things is acquired through much labour and weariness of the flesh; and these are things a man labours for “under the sun”, which measures out the time of his labour: when the sun riseth, man goeth forth to his labour; and, by the light and comfortable warmth of it, he performs his work with more exactness and cheerfulness; in some climates, and in some seasons, its heat, especially at noon, makes labour burdensome, which is called, bearing “the heat and burden of the day”, Mt 20:12; and, when it sets, it closes the time of service and labour, and therefore the servant earnestly desires the evening shadow, Job 7:2. But now, of what profit and advantage is all this labour man takes under the sun, towards his happiness in the world above the sun? that glory and felicity, which lies in super celestial places in Christ Jesus? none at all. Or, “what remains of all his labour?” p as it may be rendered; that is, after death: so the Targum,
“what is there remains to a man after he is dead, of all his labour which he laboured under the sun in this world?”
nothing at all. He goes naked out of the world as he came into it; he can carry nothing away with him of all his wealth and substance he has acquired; nor any of his worldly glory, and grandeur, and titles of honour; these all die with him, his glory does not descend after him; wherefore it is a clear case that all these things are vanity of vanities; see Job 1:21. And, indeed, works of righteousness done by men, and trusted in, and by which they labour to establish a justifying righteousness, are of no profit and advantage to them in the business of justification and salvation; indeed, when these are done from right principles, and with right views, the labour in them shall not be in vain; God will not forget it; it shall have a reward of grace, though not of debt.
p “quid habet amplius homo?” V. L. “quid residui?” Vatablus, Piscator, Mercerus, Gejerus, Rambachius; “quantum enim homini reliquum est, post omnem saum laborem?” Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
With this verse commences the proof for this exclamation and statement: “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he laboureth in under the sun?!” An interrogative exclamation, which leads to the conclusion that never anything right, i.e., real, enduring, satisfying, comes of it. , profit, synon. with Mothar, Ecc 3:19, is peculiar to this book (= Aram. ). A primary form, , is unknown. The punctator Simson (Cod. 102a of the Leipzig University Lib.f. 5a) rightly blames those who use , in a liturgical hymn, of the Day of Atonement. The word signifies that which remains over, either, as here, clear gain, profit, or that which has the pre-eminence, i.e., superiority, precedence, or is the foremost. “Under the sun” is the designation of the earth peculiar to this book, – the world of men, which we are wont to call the sublunary world. has not the force of an accusative of manner, but of the obj. The author uses the expression, “Labour wherein I have laboured,” Ecc 2:19-20; Ecc 5:17, as Euripides, similarly, . He now proceeds to justify the negative contained in the question, “What profit?”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
C. EXPLANATION: 311
1. Man cannot show a profit of all his labor under the sun. Ecc. 1:3
TEXT 1:3
3
What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 1:3
8.
Explain the meaning of advantage in the light of Ecc. 3:9 and 1:2223.
9.
Man labors, but his work is restricted to what place?
PARAPHRASE 1:3
If all of mans efforts are for personal gain and satisfaction, when life is over, what does he possess that he can claim as his reward?
COMMENT 1:3
Ecc. 1:3 This first question in the book gets to the heart of the Preachers pursuit. It is not a question directed toward a lazy person. He is a worker! He has dreams and ambitions. He envisions great wealth and power. It is the advantage or profit that he is concerned with. This same proposition is close to Jesus heart as he, too, raises the question, but is quick to offer an incentive to make our work worthwhile. He says, For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds (Mat. 16:26-27).
The term advantage or profit is only used in Ecclesiastes. It does not appear in any other Old Testament book. It is used several times by Solomon (Ecc. 1:3; Ecc. 2:11; Ecc. 3:9; Ecc. 5:9; Ecc. 5:16; Ecc. 7:11). It means preeminence or gain. It may also mean to remain or be left. The meaning here is that of a collected materialistic gain. The Preachers contention is that man does not have an advantage or profit. He cannot hold on to anything. He toils, labors, plans, but it is like grasping the wind (Ecc. 4:16; Ecc. 5:15).
This first question of the book offers a key to the reader. It is obvious that man will be engaged in making his living by the sweat of his brow (Gen. 3:19). Man and labor are not equal but they are inseparable. But what will be mans profit? This question must be held against the interpretation of the entire book. Even when there is a temporary profit (Ecc. 5:9; Ecc. 7:11) it is short lived and unfulfilling.
Modern man, too, grows weary of facing the labor of each day, realizing nothing more than the financial compensation at the end of the week. The monotonous grind of daily routine of the Preachers day resulted in the declaration, I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor (Ecc. 2:20).
What a vastly different question is What advantage does the Christian man have in all his labor? Cf. Col. 1:29; Heb. 13:21; Rev. 14:13.
Solomons question and answer are qualified by the phrase under the sun. This restricts both his question and his answer. Just what restrictions the phrase places upon the inquiry and the place and meaning of the phrase in the book of Ecclesiastes now draws our attention.
The phrase under the sun implies a necessary restriction. What is to be included, and what is to be excluded? Since Solomon does not define the meaning for us, we are left to discover the meaning from the use of the idea in the context of the book. One cannot go outside Ecclesiastes for his answer as the phrase is no where else employed in the Bible.
Two other phrases used in the book apparently carry the same meaning. They are under heaven, and upon the earth. It is Solomons purpose, through the use of these restricting phrases, to make his observations and conclusions believable. On occasion he expresses the futility of life under the sun with such, words as, who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life (Ecc. 6:12)? Yet, he never qualifies his toil upon the earth by contrasting it to any after life or hope of eternal blessing. It is as if he is saying, if on this earth we find our complete experience and reason for existingif this life is all there is, then a live dog is better than a dead lion . . . for whoever is joined with the living, there is hope (Ecc. 9:4. Life under the sun may not afford man the opportunity for enjoyment, but one must be alive in order to take advantage of such opportunity if it does come.
The restriction under the sun appears to be a self-imposed framework of interpreting the meaning of life as it is lived apart from the verbal revelation from God. Without the benefit of words from God, man is caught in a futile struggle to unravel and interpret the complexities of our transitory world. Thus, the phrase under the sun includes that which has to do with purely earthly things. The Preacher purposely closes off the influence of Heaven for the sake of his higher purpose: i.e. the vanity of all earthly things.
In a very real sense the sun can move about heaven mocking man, disappearing only to return again tomorrow, smiling upon the futile efforts of those who are so identified with sublunary affairs. Yet, for some, a new day dawns and as Malachi predicted, For you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings (Mal. 4:2). The Preacher is not ready to take us to the new day but intends to fully demonstrate that upon the earth, under heaven, and beneath the earthly sun, man toils and dreams but for little profit!
A STUDY OF UNDER THE SUN, UNDER HEAVEN, AND UPON EARTH IN ECCLESIASTES
Scripture Reference
That which is viewed by Solomon under the sun
Observations and Conclusions
Ecc. 1:3
All the work one does
What advantage?
Ecc. 1:9
Nothing that is new
Already has been done
Ecc. 1:13
All that has been done
A grievous task to discover
Ecc. 1:14
All the works that have been done
Vanity,
Striving after wind
Ecc. 2:3
What good the sons of men might do
Vanity,
Striving after wind,
No profit
Ecc. 2:11
All of mans labor, activities and exertion
Vanity,
Striving after wind,
No profit
Ecc. 2:17
Work
Hated life,
Grievous,
Futile,
Striving after wind
Ecc. 2:18
All the fruit of my labor
Hated it
Must leave it to another
Ecc. 2:19
All the fruit of my labor
Vanity,
Another will have control over it
Ecc. 2:20
All the fruit of my labor
I completely despaired
Ecc. 2:22
All labor and striving
Painful,
Grievous,
No rest,
Vanity
Ecc. 3:1-9
An appointed time for everything
What profit?
Ecc. 3:16-19
Wickedness in the place of righteousness and justice
Vanity
Ecc. 4:1-2
Acts of oppression
Congratulated the dead
Ecc. 4:3
Evil activities
Greater congratulations to the one who never lived
Ecc. 4:7-8
Labor depriving me of pleasure
No one to whom to leave the wealth
Ecc. 4:15-16
Prominence and success are soon forgotten
Vanity,
Striving after wind
Ecc. 5:13-16
Riches hoarded by their owner
Grievous evil,
No advantage,
Toiling for the wind
Ecc. 6:1-6
A man who has been given everything from the hand of God, but he cannot enjoy them and a foreigner enjoys them
Prevalent evil,
Vanity,
Sore affliction,
Miscarriage is better,
Ends in the grave,
Never satisfied,
No advantage over the poor,
Futility,
Striving after wind,
Cannot argue with God,
Increases futility,
No advantage
Ecc. 6:12
Spends life like a shadow,
No knowledge of to morrow
Few years
Ecc. 7:20-24
No righteous man
Remote,
Exceedingly mysterious
Ecc. 8:9-13
Every deed done,
Futility
Exercised authority to another’s hurt,
Dead are soon forgotten,
Wicked receive burial, Men do evil continually, Sinner lengthens his life,
Ecc. 8:14
Righteous suffer as though they were the wicked ones,
Futility
Wicked are blessed as though they were the righteous ones
Ecc. 8:16-17
Sleepless effort to discover wisdom and the task done,
Cannot discover the work,
Saw every work of God
Cannot really know
Ecc. 9:3
All that is done
An evil,
One fate for all, Insanity in all men’s hearts,
All men go to the dead
Ecc. 9:6
All that is done: love, hate, and zeal
Have perished, Man no longer has a share
Ecc. 9:11
Race is not to the swift, Battle is not to the warriors,
Time and chance determine these things
Bread is not to the wise,
Wealth is not to the discerning,
Favor is not to men of ability
Ecc. 10:5
Folly is in the hand of the ruler,
An evil
Princes sit in humble places
Ecc. 10:7
Slaves riding on horses, Princes walking like slaves on the land
An evil
The following three references employ the phrase differently. In each instance, the results are positive rather than negative. The Preachers message to the man who lives under the sun is that he should resign himself to the Providence of God, enjoy one day at a time, and make the most of the now. Salvation or eternal redemption are not the subjects under discussion for the man under the sun. He is searching for the best way to live out the difficult days of his life.
Ecc. 5:18-20
God gives you a few years to eat, drink, and enjoy your labor
Good,
Fitting,
Your reward,
Rejoice,
Keeps you from remembering the past
Ecc. 8:15
Eat, drink, be merry, Enjoy pleasure and labor
God gives him these days of his life
Ecc. 9:9
Toil and labor with the woman you love
This is your reward Enjoy life
FACT QUESTIONS 1:3
16.
What advantage does man have in all his work done under the sun?
17.
What is meant by the word advantage?
18.
What does Rev. 14:13 teach will happen to the Christians works?
19.
What two phrases, also used in the book, are equivalent to the phrase under the sun?
20.
What limitations are considered by the phrase under the sun?
21.
Why does Solomon say that a live dog is better than a dead lion? Cf. Ecc. 9:4
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(3) What profit.The Hebrew word occurs ten times in this book (Ecc. 2:11; Ecc. 2:13; Ecc. 3:9; Ecc. 5:9; Ecc. 5:16; Ecc. 7:12; Ecc. 10:10-11) and nowhere else in the Old Testament, but is common in post-Biblical Hebrew. The oft-recurring phrase under the sun is a peculiarity of this book. In other books we have under heaven.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(3-11) Man is perpetually toiling, yet of all his toil there remains no abiding result. The natural world exhibits a spectacle of unceasing activity, with no real progress. The sun, the winds, the waters, are all in motion, yet they do but run a round, and nothing comes of it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. What profit hath a man The matter to be investigated is now plainly stated. The question is in Hebrew rhetoric a favourite substitute for the negative “a man hath no profit” in the “toil which he toileth;” (emphatic, like “with desire have I desired.”)
Under the sun Found in this book only of the Bible, and here some twenty-five times; is a lively equivalent to “on the earth.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ecc 1:3. What profit The word iithron, rendered profit, signifies the surplus, or that which remains after allowance is made for toils and fatigue, &c. It occurs eleven times in this book; and I think, says Mr. Desvoeux, the original notion of residue or remainder may well be preserved in every place, and will generally set the author’s meaning in a better light than any other expression; though it may be sometimes convenient to make use of some other word.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (4) One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. (5) The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. (6) The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. (7) All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (8) All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. (9) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (10) Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (11) There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Nothing can be more beautiful, by way of illustrating the Preacher’s text and doctrine, than the representation of the things here chosen. What is the labour of one man, or the indolence of another? To what purpose are the ills of the poor, or the pleasures of the rich? let the different objects of their different pursuits, be looked into, and the ultimate end of all is one and the same; namely, all are directed to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, Rom 13:14 . But while the fashions of the world, with all its different pursuits, end in vanity; let the subject be considered as it relates to Christ, and here all things become certain, solid, and substantial. Everlasting profit here will be found in that pursuit, which is directed in labouring for the bread that perisheth not. And let what will of worldly generations pass away, and others of the same kind succeed them; yet the children of Christ shall continue, and their seed shall be established before the Lord. Psa 102:28 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ecc 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ver. 3. What profit hath a man? ] What durable profit? Quid residui? what excess? what more than will serve to satisfy back and belly? Our life is called, “the life of our hands,” Isa 57:10 because it is maintained by the labour of our hands. Si ventri bene, si lateri, as he in Horace saith, If the belly may be filled, the back fitted, that’s all that can here be had, and that most men care to have; which if they have (some have but prisoners’ pittance, so much as will keep life and soul together), yet quid amplius? as the Vulgate renders this text, what have they more to pay them for their pains? Surely, when all the account is subducted, such a labouring man’s happiness resolved into its final issue and conclusion, there resteth nothing but ciphers. This should make us more moderate in our desires and endeavours after earthly things, since we do but “labour in the very fire, and weary ourselves for very vanity.” Heb 2:13 They that seek after the philosopher’s stone, they must use so much gold, and spend so much gold, and then they can turn as much into gold by it as they have spent in making of it; and so they have their labour for their pains. Quid emolumenti? What profit hath a man? Do we not see many take a great deal of pains to go to hell? whereinto at length they are turned as a sumpter horse is at night, after all his hard travail, with his back full of galls and bruises.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ecc 1:3-11
3What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
4A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.
5Also, the sun rises and the sun sets;
And hastening to its place it rises there again.
6Blowing toward the south,
Then turning toward the north,
The wind continues swirling along;
And on its circular courses the wind returns.
7All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.
8All things are wearisome;
Man is not able to tell it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor is the ear filled with hearing.
9That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there anything of which one might say,
See this, it is new?
Already it has existed for ages
Which were before us.
11There is no remembrance of earlier things;
And also of the later things which will occur,
There will be for them no remembrance
Among those who will come later still.
Ecc 1:3 what advantage does man have in all his works All human work and all other things are meaningless if there is no God (atheistic humanism). We are the chance result of physical forces. There is no purpose, no meaning, no afterlife, no god, just the physical universe (atheistic naturalism).
NASBadvantage
NKJV, NJBprofit
NRSVgain
TEVwhat do you have to show for it
This root (BDB 451-452) has several meanings:
1. I – reminder, excess, pre-eminence
2. II – cord, rope, bowstring
3. III – abundance
The form here is found only in Ecclesiastes (cf. Ecc 1:3; Ecc 2:11; Ecc 2:13[twice]; Ecc 3:9; Ecc 5:8; Ecc 5:15; Ecc 7:12; Ecc 10:11; Ecc 10:11; another form of the term is a substantive from the Qal PARTICIPLE, cf. Ecc 6:11; Ecc 7:11; Ecc 7:16; Ecc 12:9; Ecc 12:12). It is obviously a key term because it describes the goal of mankind’s search! The Handbook on Ecclesiastes by UBS, suggests it refers to eternity or the afterlife, possibly a lasting benefit (pp. 5-6).
The word toil (BDB 765), used twice, has several connotations. The root can mean
1. trouble, sorrow
2. trouble, mischief
3. toil, labor
In this context #3 fits best, but one feels the presence of the other connotations in the root (there are several verses where the root is used twice (Ecc 1:3; Ecc 2:10-11; Ecc 2:18-22; Ecc 4:8; Ecc 5:18; Ecc 9:9).
Ecc 1:3; Ecc 1:9; Ecc 1:13-14 under the sun This is the key phrase (Preposition, DBD 1065; Definite Article and Noun, DBD 1039) in interpreting the entire book. It is used twenty-five times. It reflects mankind’s efforts without God. Qoheleth examines physical life (by observation, i.e. natural revelation) and comes to the conclusion that it is vanity (cf. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 228).
Ecc 1:4 ff This begins a poetic stanza:
1. NASB – Ecc 1:3-11
2. NKJV – Ecc 1:3-11
3. NRSV – Ecc 1:1-11
4. TEV – prose
5. NJB – prose
6. JPSOA – Ecc 1:2-9
7. NIV – Ecc 1:3-11
8. REB – prose
It is obvious that the genre and structure are not easy to identify and outline.
Ecc 1:4 The phrase remains forever is used in a relative sense (cf. Exo 21:6).
This verse is expressing the fleetingness of conscious life (cf. Job 14:2; Psa 90:5-6; Psa 103:15-16; Isa 40:6-7) versus the stability of the spiritual creation (as an aspect of YHWH’s permanence, cf. Psa 104:5; Psa 119:90).
SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER (‘OLAM)
Ecc 1:5 Psa 19:6 presents this same truth in great poetic majesty, but here the sun’s daily task is seen as vain, meaningless, wearisome repetition.
hastening This can mean panting (BDB 983 I, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE), as in weariness or desire (i.e., Psa 119:131). This is the first in a series of eleven Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLES reflecting nature (cf. Ecc 1:5-7).
Ecc 1:6 The Septuagint and Vulgate relate the first part of this verse to the sun, but in context it refers to the wind (a word play with vanity) as another meaningless activity (as is the flowing of rivers to the sea).
Ecc 1:8 All things are wearisome Physical creation is in a repetitive, mysterious routine (i.e., Ecc 1:9):
1. human life, Ecc 1:4
2. heavenly bodies, Ecc 1:5
3. wind, Ecc 1:6
4. rivers, Ecc 1:7
This premise is the author’s first and primary presupposition about earthly existence (i.e., there is nothing new or significant in an endless cycle of physical creation). The principle is begun in Ecc 1:8 a and followed by three explanatory phrases:
1. man cannot tell it
2. eye is not satisfied in seeing it
3. ear is not filled with hearing it
These describe the generations that come and go (cf. Ecc 1:4 a). They all experience
1. the cycles in nature
2. frustrations at the mysteries of fallen existence
3. seeking answers but not finding them (another cycle)
NASBman is not able to tell it
NKJVman cannot express it
NRSVmore than one can express
TEVa weariness too great for words
REBno one can describe them all
LXXa man will not be able to speak of them
The author’s list of meaningless repetition in nature could be multiplied endlessly. The implication is not only fallen human’s inability to state clearly the meaninglessness and hopelessness brought about by the cycles of nature, but also the sense of purposelessness it brings to human existence!
Humans cannot tell because they do not know (apart from divine revelation).
Ecc 1:9 That which has been is that which will be This refers to meaningless repetition with no apparent purpose or attainable goal (this is sarcasm of humanity without God. Compare Isa 55:6-13!). This describes humanistic atheism and, for that matter, eastern religious philosophy (i.e., wheel of karma).
there is nothing new under the sun This repeated theme is the key to interpreting the book. The author is showing the meaninglessness and hopelessness of life without God; without purpose; without eternity! The readers are forced to contemplate human existence, earthly life, if there is no God!
This is where the modern issue over origins takes on its sharpest focus. Is the universe, in all its size, power, and violence all there was, all there is, and all there will be? Is human life an accident, a passing purposeless evolution of constant change? Is change the only absolute? This is the ultimate question of human worth, dignity, and divine image!
Ecc 1:10 See this, it is new See (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE) is from a supposed objector. He is answered by his faulty remembrance of history (cf. Ecc 1:10-11). The only constant is the empty repetition (both physical and existential).
Ecc 1:11
NASBearlier things
NKJVformer things
NRSVpeople of long ago
TEVwhat happened in the past
NJBof the past
This MASCULINE PLURAL ADJECTIVE (BDB 911) refers to people, Lev 26:45; Deuteronomy 19; Psa 79:8, while the FEMININE PLURAL refers to events, Isa 41:22; Isa 42:9; Isa 43:9; Isa 46:9; Isa 48:3; and possibly Isa 61:4. Therefore, the NRSV has the better translation.
This verse is characterized well by Robert Gordis, Koheleth, the Man and His World, a Study of Ecclesiastes, p. 208, as This verse gives the reason for Ecc 1:10. Things appear new only because the past is forgotten (Levy) – an additional element in the vanity of human existence; not only can nothing be accomplished, but the memory of the effort is wiped out (Hertz).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
man. Hebrew. ‘adam = the natural man. App-14.
labour = toil.
under the sun. This expression is peculiar to this book, and occurs twenty-nine times: (Ecc 1:3, Ecc 1:9, Ecc 1:14; Ecc 2:11, Ecc 2:17, Ecc 2:18, Ecc 2:19, Ecc 2:20, Ecc 2:22; Ecc 3:16; Ecc 4:1, Ecc 4:3, Ecc 4:7, Ecc 4:15; Ecc 5:13, Ecc 5:18; Ecc 6:1, Ecc 6:12; Ecc 8:9, Ecc 8:15, Ecc 8:15, Ecc 8:17; Ecc 9:3, Ecc 9:6, Ecc 9:9, Ecc 9:9, Ecc 9:11, Ecc 9:13; Ecc 10:5). It is equivalent to “upon the earth” (Ecc 5:2; Ecc 8:14, Ecc 8:16; Ecc 10:7; Ecc 11:2, Ecc 11:3). It refers to all that is connected with earthly things as such, and with man apart from God, but what is stated is inspired truth. If what is stated here seems to be a “discrepancy” when compared with other scriptures, then these latter must be dealt withand reconciled and harmonized as other supposed “discrepancies” usually are; not cast aside as uninspired. It may be that it is man’s theology which has yet to be conformed to these inspired statements.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
profit: Ecc 2:22, Ecc 3:9, Ecc 5:16, Pro 23:4, Pro 23:5, Isa 55:2, Hab 2:13, Hab 2:18, Mat 16:26, Mar 8:36, Mar 8:37, Joh 6:27
under: Ecc 2:11, Ecc 2:19, Ecc 4:3, Ecc 4:7, Ecc 5:18, Ecc 6:12, Ecc 7:11, Ecc 8:15-17, Ecc 9:3, Ecc 9:6, Ecc 9:13
Reciprocal: Gen 3:17 – cursed Gen 3:19 – In Psa 119:96 – I have seen
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ecc 1:3. What profit What real and abiding benefit? None at all. All is unprofitable as to the attainment of that happiness which all men are inquiring after. Of all his labour Hebrew, his toilsome labour, both of body and mind, in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things; under the sun In all worldly matters, which are usually transacted in the day-time, or by the light of the sun. By this restriction he implies, that the happiness which in vain is sought for in this lower world, is really to be found in heavenly places and things.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:3 What profit hath a man of all his {c} labour which he taketh under the sun?
(c) Solomon does not condemn man’s labour or diligence, but shows that there is no full contentment in anything under the heavens, nor in any creature, as all things are transitory.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
B. The Futility of All Human Endeavor 1:3-11
In this pericope, Solomon gave general support to his theme (Ecc 1:2). Essentially he said that it is impossible for any human endeavor to have permanent value. This section is a poem. [Note: See Addison G. Wright, "The Riddle of the Sphinx: The Structure of the Book of Qoheleth," Catholic Biblical Quarterly 30 (1968):313-34.] Solomon chose the realm of nature as the setting for his argument.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
1. The vanity of work 1:3
Rather than saying, "All work is vanity," Solomon made the same point by asking this rhetorical question that expects a negative response. He used this literary device often throughout the book (cf. Ecc 2:2; Ecc 3:9; Ecc 6:8; Ecc 6:11-12; et al.).
"Advantage" (Heb. yitron) refers to what remains in the sense of a net profit (cf. Ecc 2:11; Ecc 2:13; Ecc 3:9; Ecc 5:9; Ecc 5:16; Ecc 7:12; Ecc 10:10-11). This Hebrew word occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. Solomon was not saying there is nothing good about work or that it is worse than being unemployed. He only meant that all the work that a person may engage in does not yield permanent profit-even though it may yield short-term profit, including financial security (cf. Mar 8:36). [Note: See John F. Genung, Words of Koheleth, pp. 214-15.]
"Under the sun," used 29 times in Ecclesiastes and nowhere else in the Old Testament, simply means "on the earth," that is, in terms of human existence (Ecc 1:9; Ecc 1:14; Ecc 2:11; Ecc 2:17-20; Ecc 2:22; Ecc 3:16; Ecc 4:1; Ecc 4:3; Ecc 4:7; Ecc 4:15; Ecc 5:13; Ecc 5:18; Ecc 6:1; Ecc 6:5; Ecc 6:12; Ecc 8:9; Ecc 8:15; Ecc 8:17; Ecc 9:3; Ecc 9:6; Ecc 9:9; Ecc 9:11; Ecc 9:13; Ecc 10:5; cf. Ecc 1:13; Ecc 2:3; Ecc 3:1). The phrase shows that the writer’s perspective was universal, not limited to his own people and land. [Note: J. S. Wright, p. 1152.] And it shows that Solomon was looking at life from the perspective of man on the earth without the aid of special revelation from God.
"The phrase ’under the sun’ (Ecc 1:3; Ecc 1:9) describes life and reality as perceived by mere human observation. It is a world-view devoid of special revelation." [Note: Eugene H. Merrill, in The Old Testament Explorer, p. 505.]
"It defines the outlook of the writer as he looks at life from a human perspective and not necessarily from heaven’s point of view." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 478.]
"This man [Qoheleth] had been living through all these experiences under the sun, concerned with nothing above the sun, on the modern level of experience in the realm of the material, until there came a moment in which he had seen the whole of life. And there was something over the sun. It is only as a man takes account of that which is over the sun as well as that which is under the sun that things under the sun are seen in their true light." [Note: G. Campbell Morgan, The Unfolding Message of the Bible, p. 229.]
"Of course, looked at only ’under the sun,’ a person’s daily work might seem to be futile and burdensome, but the Christian believer can always claim 1Co 15:58 and labor gladly in the will of God, knowing his labor is ’not in vain in the Lord.’" [Note: Wiersbe, p. 479.]