Ecclesiastes 1:3 — Word Study
WLCמַה־ יִּתְר֖וֹן לָֽאָדָ֑ם בְּכָל־ עֲמָל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
BSAWhatmâh [advantage or profit] does a manʼâdâm [the human being, Adam] gainyithrôwn [acquire or obtain] from allkôl [everything, the entirety] his laborʻâmâl [trouble, hard work, toil] at which he toilsʻâmal▸ [in the midst of, during, labors, works diligently] undertachath [beneath, in the sphere of] the sunshemesh [the celestial body]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַה־ | what? | Pronoun |
| יִּתְר֖וֹן | profit | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לָֽאָדָ֑ם | [belongs] to humankind | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| בְּכָל־ | in all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עֲמָל֔וֹ | toil his | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל | that he toils | Particle, verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular |
| תַּ֥חַת | under | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ | the sun | Particle, noun common both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun? |
| KJV | What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? |
| ASV | What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun? |
| YLT | What advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun? |
| WEB | What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? |
| BBE | What is a man profited by all his work which he does under the sun? |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence is structured around a main question with several prepositional phrases providing context.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיִתְרוֹן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ecclesiastes 1:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Futility of Lifegenerated
Ecclesiastes 1:3 reflects on the meaning of human labor and its perceived futility. The Teacher, a figure traditionally understood to be Solomon, begins by asserting that all efforts under the sun may ultimately lead to no gain. This theme of futility continues throughout Ecclesiastes as it explores the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death, reminding readers of the limitations of human endeavor.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 2:22 | For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 3:9 | What does the worker gain from his toil? |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 5:16 | This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? |
| 4 | Proverbs 23:4–5 | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. |
| 5 | Isaiah 55:2 | Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 16 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יִּתְרוֹן, yit.Rongenerated
The noun יִתְרוֹן (yit.Ron) means profit or advantage, derived from a root that conveys the idea of preeminence. It describes something that is beneficial or excellent, often in the context of evaluating the worth of actions or pursuits.
In this verse, it questions the value of all the toil a person undertakes. The Teacher asks what true advantage can be gained from labor, emphasizing the need to reflect on the purpose and outcome of one's hard work.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that the question posed in Ecclesiastes 1:3 is about the profit or gain from labor.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יַּעֲמֹ֖ל (ya'amol), meaning 'he toils,' governs the main clause, while the subject יִּתְרוֹן (yit.Ron) and several prepositional phrases elaborate on the context of labor under the sun.
The structure emphasizes the question of gain from toil, highlighting the relationship between human effort and the perceived lack of reward.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יִּתְרוֹן as περισσεία (perisseia), which also means surplus or abundance. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of gain, suggesting not only profit but also an excess beyond mere necessity.
This translation indicates a potential widening of the concept, as the Greek word can imply a more generous understanding of what one might gain from labor.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 1:3 asks what a person truly gains from all their hard work and toil in life. The Teacher reflects on the futility of human effort, suggesting that despite all labor, there may be no real profit or advantage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Teacher is questioning the value of human labor and whether any true advantage can be derived from it.
Toil implies hard work that often brings struggle or difficulty, highlighting the burdensome nature of labor.
This phrase indicates a perspective limited to earthly existence, suggesting that the Teacher is considering life from a human viewpoint.
It sets the stage for the exploration of life's meaning, emphasizing the recurring theme of futility and questioning the value of human endeavors.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the futility of my own efforts in life?
- How can I find meaning in my work despite the challenges it brings?
- What does it mean to me to labor 'under the sun'?
- How can I apply the Teacher's insights to my daily life and choices?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers commented on this verse to illustrate the fleeting nature of earthly wealth and the importance of focusing on spiritual riches.
Those who are rich in things that are valued in the realm of the natural do not gain anything. They do not gain longevity. Rich and poor are in the same situation: they go through life quickly and do not stay for a long time.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 1 →
"What profit is there for a man in exchange for all his toil, which he toils under the sun?" After the general opinion that all things are vain Solomon begins to explain with regard to mankind: because men exert themselves in vain in the…Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 1 →
So this is what the rich should do: not be haughty in their ideas, nor set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who bestows all things on us abundantly for our enjoyment; that is what they must do.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 1 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 1:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhat profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?] This is a general proof of the vanity of all things, since there is no profit arises to a man of all his labour; for, though
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhat profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? What proof hath a man of all his labour - i:e., "What profit" as to the chief good?
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 1 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhat profit? or, as others render it, What remainder? What real and abiding benefit hath a man by it? None at all. All is unprofitable, as to the attainment of that happiness which Solomon here is, and all men in the world are, inquiring after. His labour, Heb. his toilsome labour, both of body and mind, in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things. Which he taketh under the sun; in all sublunary or worldly matters, which are usually transacted in the day time, or by the light of the sun. By this restriction he implies that that profit and happiness which in vain is sought for in this lower world, is really and only to be found in heavenly places and things.
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 1 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?Ver. 3. What profit hath a man?] What durable profit? Quid residui? what excess? what more than will serve to satisfy back and belly? Our life is called, "the life of our hands," because it is maintained by the labour of our hands. Si ventri bene, si lateri, as he in Horace saith, If the belly may be filled, the back fitted, that’ s all that can here be had, and that most men care to have; which if they have (some have but prisoners’ pittance, so much as will keep life and soul together), yet quid amplius? as the Vulgate renders this text, what have they more to pay them for their pains? Surely, when all…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 1 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3-11) Man is perpetually toiling, yet of all his toil there remains no abiding result. The natural world exhibits a spectacle of unceasing activity, with no real progress. The sun, the winds, the waters, are all in motion, yet they do but run a round, and nothing comes of it.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 1 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. What profit hath a man] What is the sum of the real good he has gained by all his toils in life? They, in themselves, have neither made him contented nor happy.
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. What profit hath a man] The question is, it is obvious, as in the analogous question of Mat 16:26, the most emphatic form of a negation. For “all his labour which he taketh” read all his toil which he toileth, the Hebrew giving the emphasis of the combination of the verb with its cognate substantive. The Debater sums up his experience of life in this, “There is toil, and the toil is profitless.” The word for “profit,” not meeting us elsewhere in the Hebrew of the O. T., occurs ten times in Ecclesiastes. Its strict meaning is “that which remains,”—the surplus, if any, of the balance-sheet of life. It was, probably, one of the words which the commerce of the Jews, after the Captivity, had…
Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 1 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhat profit ... - The question often repeated is the great practical inquiry of the book; it receives its final answer in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. When this question was asked, the Lord had not yet spoken Matthew 11:28.
Read Albert Barnes on Ecclesiastes 1 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?
What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
Tyndale line
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he laboureth under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his labor, which he taketh under the sun?
What remaineth vnto man in all his trauaile, which he suffereth vnder ye sunne?
Strictly literal
What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun?
What advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?
What advantage [is] to man by all his labor that he labors at under the sun?
What profit hath a man of all his toil which he toil-eth under the sun?
What profit does mankind gain from all the work that they labor at under the sun?
From the Latin
What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?
Simplified
What benefit do you get for slaving away in this life?
What is a man profited by all his work which he does under the sun?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of Ecclesiastes 1:3, with all eight words matching in the Hebrew and Greek texts, indicating a consistent interpretation across these traditions.
מַה־ יִּתְר֖וֹן לָֽאָדָ֑ם בְּכָל־ עֲמָל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ecclesiastes 1:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
יִתְרוֹן (yithrown) refers to concepts of advantage, profit, and excellency. It is derived from the root word meaning preeminence. The term is noted in the context of Ecclesiastes, where it conveys the idea of gain or benefit.
יִתְרוֹן n.[m.] advantage, profit, only Ec
base
H3504 יִתְרוֹן
3504 yithrown yith-rone'
from 3498; preeminence, gain:--better, excellency(-leth),
profit(-able).
see HEBREW for 03498
יִתְרוֹן (yit.ron) — advantage.
advantage, profit, excellency
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
אָדָם (adam) refers to 'man' or 'mankind,' encompassing both individual humans and the species as a whole. It is also the name of the first man in the Bible, Adam, who is mentioned in various verses, including Genesis 2:19. The term can denote a city in the Jordan valley as well. The entries indicate a range of meanings, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
אָדָם 560 n.m. Gn 1:27 man, mankind
a man = human being
coll. man, mankind
n.pr.m. Adam, first man (without art.)
n.pr.loc. city in Jordan valley (as built?)
base
H120 אָדָם man, mankind . a man = human being
. coll. man, mankind
120 'adam aw-dawm'
from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the
species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common
sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
see HEBREW for 0119
אָדָם (a.dam) — man.
1) man, mankind
1a) man, human being
1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)
1c) Adam, first man
1d) city in Jordan valley
אָדָם (a.dam) — the man (Adam).
The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;
married to Eve (H2332);
father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;
Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121)
man, human being
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(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 HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
עָמָל (amal) refers to trouble, labor, or toil. It encompasses a range of meanings including physical and mental effort, as well as sorrow and mischief. The word is built from a root that conveys the idea of wearing effort and can imply grievance or wickedness. It appears in contexts related to suffering and toil.
עָמָל n.m. f. trouble, labor, toil
trouble (∥ sorrow): one’s own suffering
trouble, mischief, as done to others
toil, labour (late in Heb.)
base
H5999 עָמָל trouble, labor, toil
5999 `amal aw-mawl'
from 5998; toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of
body or mind:--grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour,
mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow,
toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness.
see HEBREW for 05998
עָמָל (a.mal) — trouble.
1) toil, trouble, labour
1a) trouble
1b) trouble, mischief
1c) toil, labour
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp3ms
עָמַל (amal) is a primitive root meaning to toil or labor, often with a sense of severity and discomfort. The entries emphasize its use in the context of hard work, particularly in the Qal form. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.
עָמַל vb. labour, toil
base
H5998 עָמַל
5998 `amal aw-mal'
a primitive root; to toil, i.e. work severely and with
irksomeness:--(take) labour (in).
עָמַל (a.mal) — to toil.
1) to labour, toil
1a) (Qal) to labour
Rel | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Particle · verb qal imperfect third person masculine singularHTr/Vqi3ms
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: 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
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
Prep — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (shemesh) means 'sun' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be brilliant.' It encompasses various meanings, including directions like east and west, and can refer to the sun as an object of worship. Additionally, it can denote shining pinnacles or battlements.
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ 133 n.f. et m. sun
sun
of direction: toward sun-rise, = East
obj. of worship
other phr.
pinnacle, as glittering, shining
base
H8121 שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ sun
8121 shemesh sheh'-mesh
from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by
implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (arch.) a
notched battlement:--+ east side(-ward), sun ((rising)), +
west(-ward), window. See also 1053.
see HEBREW for 01053
שֶׁ֫מֶשׁ (she.mesh) — sun.
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)
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absoluteHTd/Ncbsa
Sun
(Heb. shemesh), first mentioned along with the moon as the two great luminaries of heaven (Gen. 1:14-18). By their motions and influence they were intended to mark and divide times and seasons. The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. The Jews were warned against this form of idolatry (Deut. 4:19; 17:3; comp. 2 Kings 23:11; Jer. 19:13).
In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the "seasons," both for agricultural operations and for religious festivals, and also in regulating the length and…
→ Created Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; Jer 31:35
→ Rising and setting of Ec 1:5
→ Diurnal motion of Ps 19:4,6
→ Worship of, forbidden De 4:19; 17:3
→ Worshiped Job 31:26-28; Jer 8:2; Eze 6:4,6; 8:16
→ Kings of Judah dedicate horses to 2Ki 23:11
→ Miracles concerning