Ecclesiastes 2:11
"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do,.... He had looked at them, and on them, over and over again, and had taken pleasure therein; but now he sits down and enters into a serious consideration of them, what prodigious expenses he had been at; what care and thought, what toil

and labour of mind, he had taken in contriving, designing, and bringing these works to perfection; what pleasure and delight he had found in them, and what happiness upon the whole arose from them: he now passes his judgment, and gives his sentiments concerning these things, having had it in his power to make himself master of everything delightful, which he did; was a competent judge, and thoroughly qualified to give a just estimate of matters; and it is as follows; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; nothing solid and substantial in the whole; no true pleasure and real joy, and no satisfaction or happiness in that pleasure; these pleasing things perished with the using, and the pleasure of them faded and died in the enjoyment of them; and instead of yielding solid delight, only proved vexations, because the pleasure was so soon over, and left a thirst for more, and what was not to be had; at most and best, only the outward senses were fed, the mind not at all improved, nor the heart made better, and much less contented; it was only pleasing the fancy and imagination, and feeding on wind; and there was no profit under the sun; by those things; to improve and satisfy the mind of man, to raise him to true happiness, to be of any service to him in the hour of death, or fit him for an eternal world. Alshech interprets the labour mentioned in this text of the labour of the law, which brings no reward to a man in this world.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (18 words)

H6437 פָנָה
Definition:

Arabicpass away, banish; compare Sabeanפנה(variously) e.g. CISiv. Nos. 1, 37, 40; Assyrianpânu,face, Phoenicianפנם, MI13, 18לפני, suffixמפניEzekiel 1:19); —Qal117Perfect3masculine singular׳פJeremiah 6 Arabicpass away, banish; compare Sabeanפנה(variously) e.g. CISiv. Nos. 1, 37, 40; Assyrianpânu,face, Phoenicianפנם, MI13, 18לפני, suffixמפניEzekiel 1:19); —Qal117Perfect3masculine singular׳פJeremiah 6

Possible Meanings:
  • corner (semantic_range)
H0589 אֲנַי
Definition:

17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham 17;Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future])Genesis 18:17הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִיAmos I hidingfrom Abraham

Possible Meanings:
  • ships (semantic_range)
  • fleet (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה
Definition:

9deed, work; — absolute׳מGenesis 44:15+, constructמַעֲשֵׂהIsaiah 5:12+; suffixמַעֲשֵׂהוּJudges 13:12+, etc.; pluralמַעֲשִׂיםGenesis 20:9+; constructמַעֲשֵׂיJeremiah 1:16+; suffixמַעֲשָׂיו1 Samuel 19:4 9deed, work; — absolute׳מGenesis 44:15+, constructמַעֲשֵׂהIsaiah 5:12+; suffixמַעֲשֵׂהוּJudges 13:12+, etc.; pluralמַעֲשִׂיםGenesis 20:9+; constructמַעֲשֵׂיJeremiah 1:16+; suffixמַעֲשָׂיו1 Samuel 19:4

H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H3027 יָד
Definition:

26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G 26+ often (masculineExodus 17:12see Di; onיִרְמּוּ יָדַיִם2 Samuel 4:1;Zephaniah 3:16; 2Chronicles 15:7;Nehemiah 6:9, see Ges§ 145, 7 a, R. 1)hand(Late Hebrewid.; Aramaicיְדָא,; ZinjirliידDHMSendsch.G

Possible Meanings:
  • power (semantic_range)
H5999 עָמָל
Definition:

8feminineEcclesiastes 10:15(against AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 113, see KöSynt. § 249 m)trouble, labour, toil(on this form as abstract see LagBN 143BaNB 105); —׳עNumbers 23:21+; constructעֲמַלJudges 10:16+; 8feminineEcclesiastes 10:15(against AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 113, see KöSynt. § 249 m)trouble, labour, toil(on this form as abstract see LagBN 143BaNB 105); —׳עNumbers 23:21+; constructעֲמַלJudges 10:16+;

Possible Meanings:
  • toiling (semantic_range)
H5998 עָמַל
Definition:

21; 3feminine singularעָֽמְלָהProverbs 16:26; 2masculine singularעָמַלְתָּJonah 4:10; 1singularעָמַלְתִּיEcclesiastes 2:112t.; 3 pluralעָֽמְלוּPsalm 127:1;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲמֹלEcclesiast 21; 3feminine singularעָֽמְלָהProverbs 16:26; 2masculine singularעָמַלְתָּJonah 4:10; 1singularעָמַלְתִּיEcclesiastes 2:112t.; 3 pluralעָֽמְלוּPsalm 127:1;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲמֹלEcclesiast

Possible Meanings:
  • toiling (semantic_range)
H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H2009 הִנֵּה
Definition:

2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro 2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro

Possible Meanings:
  • hither (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H1892 הֶבֶל
Definition:

2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ 2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • act emptily (semantic_range)
  • become vain (semantic_range)
  • became vain (semantic_range)
  • cause to become vain (semantic_range)
H7469 רְעוּת
Definition:

14;Ecclesiastes 2:11,17,26;Ecclesiastes 4:4;Ecclesiastes 6:9;רוּחַ׳עָמָל וּרEcclesiastes 4:6.Topical LexiconRange of usageThe term occurs seven times, all in Ecclesiastes (1:14; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4; 14;Ecclesiastes 2:11,17,26;Ecclesiastes 4:4;Ecclesiastes 6:9;רוּחַ׳עָמָל וּרEcclesiastes 4:6.Topical LexiconRange of usageThe term occurs seven times, all in Ecclesiastes (1:14; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4;

Possible Meanings:
  • longing (semantic_range)
  • striving (semantic_range)
H7307 רוּחַ
Definition:

8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת 8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת

H0369 אַיִן
Definition:

23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr 23הַנּוֺתֵןרוֺזְנִים לְאָ֑יִןwho bringeth princesto nothing;כְּאַיִןas nothing, ib.Isaiah 40:17;Isaiah 41:11,12;Haggai 2:3;Psalm 39:6;almost(""כִּמְעַט)Psalm 73:2;מֵאַיִןof nothingIsaiah 41:24.2constr

Possible Meanings:
  • nought (semantic_range)
  • is not (semantic_range)
H3504 יִתְרוֹן
Definition:

34t.; constructEcclesiastes 2:134t.; —advantageto (ל) any one,מַהיִֿתְרוֺן לָאָדָםEcclesiastes 1:3, i.e.what advantage hath a man?Ecclesiastes 5:15;Ecclesiastes 10:11; followed byמִןcomparative =advan 34t.; constructEcclesiastes 2:134t.; —advantageto (ל) any one,מַהיִֿתְרוֺן לָאָדָםEcclesiastes 1:3, i.e.what advantage hath a man?Ecclesiastes 5:15;Ecclesiastes 10:11; followed byמִןcomparative =advan

Possible Meanings:
  • profit (semantic_range)
H8478 תַּחַת
Definition:

4(Cooke320), Syriac); —1asadverb accusativeGenesis 49:25(=Deuteronomy 33:13) the deepרֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַתthat couchethbeneath; more usually withמִן,מִתָּחַתliterallyoff(מִן1c)the under part = beneath,Exodu 4(Cooke320), Syriac); —1asadverb accusativeGenesis 49:25(=Deuteronomy 33:13) the deepרֹבֶצֶת תָּ֑חַתthat couchethbeneath; more usually withמִן,מִתָּחַתliterallyoff(מִן1c)the under part = beneath,Exodu

Possible Meanings:
  • underneath (semantic_range)
  • below (semantic_range)
  • instead of (semantic_range)
H8121 שֶׁמֶשׁ
Definition:

14and masculineGenesis 19:23(AlbrZAW xv (1895), 324)sun; — absolute׳שׁJoshua 10:12+,שָׁ֑מֶשׁJudges 20:43+; suffixשִׁמְשֵׁךְIsaiah 60:20,שִׁמְשָׁךְJeremiah 15:9; plural suffixשִׁמְשֹׁתַ֫יִךְIsaiah 54:1 14and masculineGenesis 19:23(AlbrZAW xv (1895), 324)sun; — absolute׳שׁJoshua 10:12+,שָׁ֑מֶשׁJudges 20:43+; suffixשִׁמְשֵׁךְIsaiah 60:20,שִׁמְשָׁךְJeremiah 15:9; plural suffixשִׁמְשֹׁתַ֫יִךְIsaiah 54:1

Possible Meanings:
  • minister (semantic_range)

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