Ecclesiastes 1 · Verse 4

Ecclesiastes 1:4

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 1:4, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:4 in other translations

BSBGenerations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
WEBOne generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
ASVOne generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.
YLTA generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.
DARBYOne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth standeth for ever.
BBEOne generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever.
WebsterOne generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

What does Ecclesiastes 1:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. earth ... for ever--(Psa 104:5). While the earth remains the same, the generations of men are ever changing; what lasting profit, then, can there be from the toils of one whose sojourn on earth, as an individual, is so brief? The "for ever" is comparative, not absolute (Psa 102:26).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 One generation passeth away - Men succeed each other in unceasing generations: but the earth is still the same; it undergoes no change that leads to melioration, or greater perfection. And it will continue the same לעולם leolam, during the whole course of time; till the end of all things arrives.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:4-8
All things change, and never rest. Man, after all his labour, is no nearer finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the current of the river. His soul will find no rest, if he has it not from God. The senses are soon tired, yet still craving what is untried.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 1:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

דּ֤וֹרDora generationH1755
הֹלֵךְ֙ho.leKh[is] goingH1980
וְד֣וֹרve.Dorand a generationH1755
בָּ֔אBa'[is] comingH935
וְהָאָ֖רֶץve.ha.'A.retzand the earthH776
לְעוֹלָ֥םle.'o.Lamfor everH5769
עֹמָֽדֶת\׃'o.Ma.det[is] continuingH5975

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 1:4

  • Psalms 104:5

    Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

  • Zechariah 1:5

    Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

  • Ecclesiastes 6:12

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Matthew 24:35

    Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  • Psalms 119:90-91

    Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

  • Psalms 89:47-48

    Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

  • 2 Peter 3:10-13

    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

  • Psalms 102:24-28

    I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. …

  • Genesis 5:3-31

    And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: …

  • Psalms 90:9-10

    For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

  • Genesis 47:9

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

  • Genesis 36:9-19

    And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
One generation.
6:12; Ge 5:3-31; 11:20-32; 36:9-19; 47:9; Ex 1:6,7; 6:16-27
Ps 89:47,48; 90:9,10; Zec 1:5
but.
Ps 102:24-28; 104:5; 119:90,91; Mt 24:35; 2Pe 3:10-13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:3

    What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

  • Ecclesiastes 1:4

    One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:5

    The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Generación va, y generación viene: mas la tierra siempre permanece.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Une génération s’en va, et une génération vient; et la terre subsiste toujours.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein Geschlecht geht, und ein Geschlecht kommt; aber die Erde besteht ewiglich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Generatio præterit, et generatio advenit; terra autem in æternum stat.