Pentecost Season · Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
Vanity of Vanities
August 6, 2028
Overview & Insights
"Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
The Teacher declares all human striving fleeting, then applies that verdict to work in particular: a person may labor with wisdom and skill only to leave the fruit of it to someone who did not toil for it. The passage sets up the Gospel's parable of the rich fool who stores up treasure for himself.
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Commentary
Ecclesiastes 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
Explains the Teacher's opening verdict that everything is fleeting and insubstantial.
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23 Working Preacher
Unpacks the Hebrew word hebel and the Teacher's frustration at leaving his labor to another.
Ecclesiastes 1 Commentary Precept Austin
Gives a verse-by-verse word study of the Teacher's declaration of vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Commentaries BibleHub
Collects classic commentary on the meaning of vanity of vanities.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 Commentaries BibleHub
Covers the Teacher's complaint about laboring only to leave the results to another.
Ecclesiastes 1 StudyLight
Offers Barnes's notes on the Teacher's opening lament over fleeting human effort.
Background & Word Study
Ecclesiastes 1:2 Interlinear BibleHub
Shows the Hebrew text word by word, including the repeated word hebel.
Ecclesiastes 1 Sefaria
Gives the Hebrew text with traditional Jewish commentary on the opening declaration.
Book of Ecclesiastes Summary BibleProject
Gives an animated overview of the book's argument that life apart from God is fleeting.
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