Ecclesiastes 2:11 - Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Ecclesiastes 2:11" mean?
Ecclesiastes 2:11, "Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun," expresses a profound sense of disillusionment and the ultimate meaninglessness of worldly pursuits when considered as ends in themselves. Let's break it down:
"Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do": This refers to the speaker (traditionally attributed to King Solomon) reflecting on all his accomplishments, wealth, projects, and efforts. It encompasses everything he had achieved through his hard work and dedication. He's surveying his empire, his building projects, his possessions, his wisdom, and all the things he had poured his energy into.
"And behold, all was vanity": The word "vanity" (Hebrew: hevel) is a key term in Ecclesiastes. It signifies something that is fleeting, unsubstantial, meaningless, or ultimately empty. It's like a vapor or a breath – it appears briefly and then disappears without leaving a lasting impact. This isn't necessarily saying that these things are evil, but that they lack inherent and lasting significance when considered as the ultimate purpose of life.
"And a chasing after wind": This phrase reinforces the idea of futility. Trying to grasp or hold onto the wind is an exercise in frustration. It symbolizes the attempt to find lasting satisfaction or meaning in things that are inherently temporary and elusive. It suggests a constant striving that ultimately yields nothing of lasting value.
"And there was no profit under the sun": "Under the sun" is a common phrase in Ecclesiastes that refers to earthly life and the material world. The statement implies that there is no real, enduring benefit or reward to be gained from focusing solely on earthly achievements. All material accomplishments, no matter how grand, will eventually fade and become irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. They do not provide lasting fulfillment or answer the deeper questions of human existence.
In essence, the verse is saying this:
The speaker, after achieving immense success and accumulating vast wealth, realizes that all his hard work and accomplishments are ultimately meaningless. They are like a vapor that vanishes or trying to catch the wind - ultimately a frustrating and futile endeavor. He concludes that focusing solely on worldly achievements and material possessions does not lead to true satisfaction or lasting meaning in life. It suggests the pursuit of something more meaningful and enduring beyond the temporal realm.
This verse highlights the central theme of Ecclesiastes: the limitations of earthly pursuits and the need to find meaning beyond material existence. It encourages readers to consider what truly matters in life and to avoid placing their hope and happiness solely on things that are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. It points to the importance of recognizing God and obeying His commandments, to give meaning to all of your earthly achievements.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 - Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
What does "Ecclesiastes 2:11" mean?
Ecclesiastes 2:11, "Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun," expresses a profound sense of disillusionment and the ultimate meaninglessness of worldly pursuits when considered as ends in themselves. Let's break it down:
"Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do": This refers to the speaker (traditionally attributed to King Solomon) reflecting on all his accomplishments, wealth, projects, and efforts. It encompasses everything he had achieved through his hard work and dedication. He's surveying his empire, his building projects, his possessions, his wisdom, and all the things he had poured his energy into.
"And behold, all was vanity": The word "vanity" (Hebrew: hevel) is a key term in Ecclesiastes. It signifies something that is fleeting, unsubstantial, meaningless, or ultimately empty. It's like a vapor or a breath – it appears briefly and then disappears without leaving a lasting impact. This isn't necessarily saying that these things are evil, but that they lack inherent and lasting significance when considered as the ultimate purpose of life.
"And a chasing after wind": This phrase reinforces the idea of futility. Trying to grasp or hold onto the wind is an exercise in frustration. It symbolizes the attempt to find lasting satisfaction or meaning in things that are inherently temporary and elusive. It suggests a constant striving that ultimately yields nothing of lasting value.
"And there was no profit under the sun": "Under the sun" is a common phrase in Ecclesiastes that refers to earthly life and the material world. The statement implies that there is no real, enduring benefit or reward to be gained from focusing solely on earthly achievements. All material accomplishments, no matter how grand, will eventually fade and become irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. They do not provide lasting fulfillment or answer the deeper questions of human existence.
In essence, the verse is saying this:
The speaker, after achieving immense success and accumulating vast wealth, realizes that all his hard work and accomplishments are ultimately meaningless. They are like a vapor that vanishes or trying to catch the wind - ultimately a frustrating and futile endeavor. He concludes that focusing solely on worldly achievements and material possessions does not lead to true satisfaction or lasting meaning in life. It suggests the pursuit of something more meaningful and enduring beyond the temporal realm.
This verse highlights the central theme of Ecclesiastes: the limitations of earthly pursuits and the need to find meaning beyond material existence. It encourages readers to consider what truly matters in life and to avoid placing their hope and happiness solely on things that are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. It points to the importance of recognizing God and obeying His commandments, to give meaning to all of your earthly achievements.