Ecclesiastes 4 · Verse 7

Ecclesiastes 4:7

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:7, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 4:7 in other translations

BSB	Again, I saw futility under the sun.
WEB	Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
ASV	Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
YLT	And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
DARBY	And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
BBE	Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Webster	Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

What does Ecclesiastes 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. A vanity described in Ec 4:8.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

,8 Frequently, the more men have, the more they would have; and on this they are so intent, that they get no enjoyment from what they have. Selfishness is the cause of this evil. A selfish man cares for nobody; there is none to take care of but himself, yet he will scarcely allow necessary rest to himself, and the people he employs. He never thinks he has enough. He has enough for his calling, for his family, but he has not enough for his eyes. Many are so set upon the world, that in pursuit of it they bereave themselves, not only of the favour of God and eternal life, but of the pleasures of this life. The distant relations or strangers who inherit such a man's wealth, never thank him. Covetousness gathers strength by time and habit; men tottering on the brink of the grave, grow more grasping and griping. Alas, and how often do we see men professing to be followers of Him, who, "though he was rich, for our sakes became poor," anxiously scraping money together and holding it fast, excusing themselves by common-place talking about the necessity of care, and the danger of extravagance!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 4:7 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.

וְשַׁ֧בְתִּיve.Shav.tiand I returnedH7725

אֲנִ֛י'a.NiIH589

וָאֶרְאֶ֥הva.'er.'Ehand I sawH7200

הֶ֖בֶלHe.velfutilityH1892

תַּ֥חַתTa.chatunderH8478

הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ\׃ha.Sha.meshthe sunH8121

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 4:7

Ecclesiastes 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Psalms 78:33
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1; Ps 78:33; Zec 1:6

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

Context

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 4:7
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Yo me torné otra vez, y vi vanidad debajo del sol.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et je me tournai, et je vis la vanité sous le soleil:
German Elberfelder 1871	Und ich wandte mich und sah Eitelkeit unter der Sonne:
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Considerans, reperi et aliam vanitatem sub sole.