Ecclesiastes 2:17
Ecclesiastes 2:17 in Multiple Translations
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.
So I ended up feeling disgusted with life because everything that happens here on earth is so distressing. It's so incomprehensible, like trying to control the wind.
Therefore I hated life: for the worke that is wrought vnder the sunne is grieuous vnto me: for all is vanitie, and vexation of the spirit.
And I have hated life, for sad to me [is] the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous to me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.
So I hated being alive, because everything that we do here on the earth [MTY] distresses me. It all seems to be useless like chasing the wind.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 2:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/שָׂנֵ֨אתִי֙
אֶת
הַ֣/חַיִּ֔ים
כִּ֣י
רַ֤ע
עָלַ/י֙
הַֽ/מַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה
שֶׁ/נַּעֲשָׂ֖ה
תַּ֣חַת
הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
כִּֽי
הַ/כֹּ֥ל
הֶ֖בֶל
וּ/רְע֥וּת
רֽוּחַ
וְ/שָׂנֵ֨אתִי֙
sânêʼ
H8130
to hate
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
הַ֣/חַיִּ֔ים
chay
H2416
alive
Art | N-mp
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
רַ֤ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Adj
עָלַ/י֙
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
הַֽ/מַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה
maʻăseh
H4639
deed
Art | N-ms
שֶׁ/נַּעֲשָׂ֖ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Rel | V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
תַּ֣חַת
tachath
H8478
underneath
Prep
הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
shemesh
H8121
sun
Art | N-cs
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
הַ/כֹּ֥ל
kôl
H3605
all
Art | N-ms
הֶ֖בֶל
hebel
H1892
vanity
N-ms
וּ/רְע֥וּת
rᵉʻûwth
H7469
longing
Conj | N-fs
רֽוּחַ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 2:17
וְ/שָׂנֵ֨אתִי֙
sânêʼ
H8130
"to hate"
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-1cs
To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility, as seen in the actions of enemies or foes in the Bible. It can also describe God's hatred of sin.
Definition: 1) to hate, be hateful 1a) (Qal) to hate 1a1) of man 1a2) of God 1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst) 1b) (Niphal) to be hated 1c) (Piel) hater (participle) 1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 24:60; Psalms 50:17; Psalms 5:6.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הַ֣/חַיִּ֔ים
chay
H2416
"alive"
Art | N-mp
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
רַ֤ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
עָלַ/י֙
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הַֽ/מַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה
maʻăseh
H4639
"deed"
Art | N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to an action or deed, which can be good or bad. It is used to describe various activities, such as work, business, or achievements. The KJV translates it as act, deed, or labor.
Definition: : judgement/punishment 1) deed, work 1a) deed, thing done, act 1b) work, labour 1c) business, pursuit 1d) undertaking, enterprise 1e) achievement 1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment) 1g) work, thing made 1h) work (of God) 1i) product
Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought. See also: Genesis 5:29; Job 1:10; Psalms 8:4.
שֶׁ/נַּעֲשָׂ֖ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Rel | V-Niphal-Perf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
תַּ֣חַת
tachath
H8478
"underneath"
Prep
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Definition: : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. See also: Genesis 1:7; Deuteronomy 7:24; 1 Kings 20:42.
הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
shemesh
H8121
"sun"
Art | N-cs
The sun, or shemesh, represents not just the celestial body, but also east or west direction, and even objects that shine like battlements. It is often used to describe the rising or setting of the sun.
Definition: 1) sun 1a) sun 1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction) 1c) sun (as object of illicit worship) 1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases) 1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)
Usage: Occurs in 127 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also H1053 (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ). See also: Genesis 15:12; Psalms 104:19; Psalms 19:5.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
הַ/כֹּ֥ל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הֶ֖בֶל
hebel
H1892
"vanity"
N-ms
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Definition: 1) vapour, breath 1a) breath, vapour 1b) vanity (fig.) adv 2) vainly
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] altogether, vain, vanity. See also: Deuteronomy 32:21; Ecclesiastes 4:7; Psalms 31:7.
וּ/רְע֥וּת
rᵉʻûwth
H7469
"longing"
Conj | N-fs
This Hebrew word describes a strong longing or striving after something, like a deep desire or craving. It is often translated as 'vexation' in the KJV. It conveys a sense of yearning or pursuit.
Definition: longing, striving Aramaic equivalent: re.ut (רְעוּ "pleasure" H7470)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: vexation. See also: Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 6:9.
רֽוּחַ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 2:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 2:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Context — The Wise and the Foolish
15So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
17So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
18I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 2:11 | Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. |
| 2 | Jonah 4:8 | As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.” |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 4:2 | So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 2:22 | For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? |
| 5 | Job 14:13 | If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! |
| 6 | Numbers 11:15 | If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.” |
| 7 | Ecclesiastes 6:9 | Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 20:14–18 | Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, because he did not kill me in the womb so that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb forever enlarged. Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame? |
| 9 | 1 Kings 19:4 | while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” |
| 10 | Psalms 89:47 | Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men! |
Ecclesiastes 2:17 Summary
The writer of Ecclesiastes is expressing his deep frustration and sadness with life, feeling like all his efforts and accomplishments are meaningless and fleeting. He sees everything as 'futile and a pursuit of the wind', like trying to catch something that is always just out of reach. This feeling of futility is a common human experience, as seen in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, but it can also be an opportunity to reorient our priorities and focus on what truly has lasting significance, as encouraged in Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 3:12-14. By recognizing the limitations and unsatisfying nature of life 'under the sun', we can begin to look to God for true fulfillment and purpose, as promised in Psalm 16:11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the writer of Ecclesiastes hate life?
The writer hated life because the work done under the sun was grievous to him, and he saw everything as futile and a pursuit of the wind, as stated in Ecclesiastes 2:17. This feeling of futility is also expressed in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, where the author laments the repetitive and meaningless nature of life under the sun.
What does it mean to say that everything is 'futile and a pursuit of the wind'?
This phrase, found in Ecclesiastes 2:17, means that the writer sees all human endeavors and pursuits as lacking lasting significance or purpose, much like trying to catch the wind. This idea is also echoed in Ecclesiastes 1:14, where the author describes life's activities as 'chasing after the wind'.
How does this verse relate to the idea of wisdom and foolishness?
The writer of Ecclesiastes is expressing his frustration that, despite his wisdom, he will still experience the same fate as the fool, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 2:15-16. This realization leads him to hate life, as he feels that his wisdom has not brought him any lasting advantage or fulfillment, a sentiment also expressed in Ecclesiastes 2:12-13.
What is the significance of the phrase 'under the sun' in this verse?
The phrase 'under the sun' is a common expression in the book of Ecclesiastes, referring to life on earth, as opposed to eternal life with God. In Ecclesiastes 2:17, it emphasizes that the writer's negative feelings about life are specifically related to the fleeting and unsatisfying nature of earthly pursuits, as compared to the eternal nature of God's plans, mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some things in my life that feel 'futile and a pursuit of the wind', and how can I reorient my priorities to focus on what truly has lasting significance?
- How do I respond when I feel like my efforts and accomplishments are not leading to the fulfillment I desire, and what does this reveal about my expectations and values?
- In what ways do I try to find meaning and purpose in life 'under the sun', and how might I need to adjust my perspective to align with God's eternal plans, as mentioned in Proverbs 19:21?
- What does it mean for me to 'hate life' in the sense that the writer of Ecclesiastes does, and how can I cultivate a healthier and more biblical perspective on the challenges and frustrations of life, as encouraged in Romans 5:3-5?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Therefore I hated life,.... Not strictly and simply understood, since life is the gift of God; and a great blessing it is, more than raiment, and so dear to a man, that he will give all he has for
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Therefore I hated life. Disappointed in one experiment after another he is weary of life.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
I hated life; my life, though accompanied with so much honour, and pleasure, and wisdom, was a burden to me, and I was apt to wish either that I had never been born, or that I might speedily die. The work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me; all human designs and works are so far from yielding me that satisfaction which I expected, that the consideration of them increaseth my discontent.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.Ver. 17. Therefore I hated life,] i.e., I less loved it than I had done; I saw mortality to be a mercy, with Cato; I was neither fond of life, nor afraid of death, with Queen Elizabeth. I preferred my coffin before my cradle, my burial day before my birthday A greater than Solomon threatens those that love life with the loss of life, and hath purposely set a particular vanity and vexation upon every day of our life, that we may not dote upon it, since "we die daily." "Sufficient to the day is the evil (that is, the misery) thereof." Quicquid boni est in mundo, saith Augustine; what good thing soever we have here, is either past, present, or to come. If past, it is nothing; if to come, it is uncertain; if present, yet it is insufficient, unsatisfactory. So that, while I call to mind things past, said that incomparable Queen Elizabeth, behold things present, and expect things to come, I hold them happiest that go hence soonest, Usque adeone mori miserum. - Virgil. Camden’ s Elisabeth, fol. 325.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
(17) Is grievous.—Rather, was.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
Verse 17. Therefore I hated life] את החיים et hachaiyim, the lives, both of the wise, the madman, and the fool. Also all the stages of life, the child, the man, and the sage. There was nothing in it worth pursuing, no period worth re-living and no hope that if this were possible I could again be more successful.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 2:17
17. Therefore I hated life] Better, And I hated. Of such a temper, the extremest form of pessimism, suicide would seem the natural and logical outcome. In practice, however, the sages who have thus moralized, from Koheleth to Schopenhauer, have found life worth living for, even when they were proving that it was hateful. Even the very utterance of the thought has been a relief, or, like Hamlet, they have been deterred by the vague terror of the “something after death” which their scepticism cannot quite shake off. The actual self-murderers are those who cannot weave their experiences into poems and confessions, and find the burden of life, including its sin and shame, more than they can bear. It may be questioned whether mere weariness of life, able to find vent for itself in verse or prose, has ever led to suicide. The man, as here, seems to come to the very verge of it, and then draws back. It is suggestive that in the history of Greek and Roman philosophy suicide was more frequent and more honoured among the Stoics than the Epicureans (Zeller, Stoics and Epic. c. xii.). The recurrence of the burden “vanity and feeding upon wind” rings, as it were, the death-knell of life and hope.
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:17
17. The work… wrought… is grievous — Because most men are in pursuit of wisdom or pleasure, the best deeming the former, the worst deeming the latter, the real good, and both are disappointed.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 2:17
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Of the Being of God. by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the foundational importance of the Being of God in his sermon 'Of the Being of God,' arguing that the existence of God is self-evident and universally acknowle |
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The Vanities of the Wise Experimenter. 2:1-26 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the preacher delves into the journey of a Seeker who starts with youthful pleasure and mirth, seeking 'the good' in life's experiences but ultimately |
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The Way to Serve God by Jack Hyles | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of finding one's purpose and doing it with passion and dedication. He encourages the audience to identify what their hands sh |
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The Sum and Forecast and Great Conclusion. 11:17-12:14 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the Preacher reflects on the vanity of life under the sun, emphasizing the fleeting nature of earthly pursuits and the ultimate conclusion that all i |
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Standing in Slippery Places by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead's sermon 'Standing in Slippery Places' emphasizes the precarious state of the wicked who seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. He draws from Psalm 73, illustra |
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Can You Live It? by Ernest O'Neill | Ernest O'Neill preaches about the feeling many of us have that we were made for bigger things, a unique purpose that we struggle to grasp, leading to a sense of unfulfillment and m |
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The Theme by W.J. Erdman | W.J. Erdman preaches on the book of Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher, a wise man under the sun, seeks to answer the age-old question of the chief good in life and the true purpose |