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.

Then I looked {H6437} on all the works {H4639} that my hands {H3027} had wrought {H6213}, and on the labour {H5999} that I had laboured {H5998} to do {H6213}: and, behold, all was vanity {H1892} and vexation {H7469} of spirit {H7307}, and there was no profit {H3504} under the sun {H8121}.

Then I looked at all that my hands had accomplished and at the work I had toiled at; and I saw that it was all meaningless and feeding on wind, and that there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

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.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 KJV presents a pivotal conclusion from the Preacher, often identified as King Solomon, after his extensive experiments in seeking satisfaction and meaning through worldly endeavors. This verse encapsulates the central theme of the book: the futility of life's pursuits when viewed solely from an earthly perspective.

Context

This verse comes at the end of Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, where the Preacher meticulously details his attempts to find lasting happiness and purpose. He explored pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3), accumulated vast wealth, undertook grand building projects like palaces and gardens (Ecclesiastes 2:4-7), acquired servants and livestock, and even sought wisdom and folly (Ecclesiastes 2:12-16). Despite achieving more than anyone before him, his ultimate assessment of all these accomplishments was profoundly negative.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Futility of Worldly Gain: The Preacher's extensive efforts, represented by "all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do," ultimately yielded no lasting satisfaction. His conclusion is that earthly achievements, apart from God, are hollow.
  • Vanity (hebel): The recurring term "vanity" (Hebrew: hebel) is central here. It literally means "breath" or "vapor," signifying something fleeting, insubstantial, and ultimately meaningless. It's not necessarily evil, but it lacks permanence and true fulfillment, much like trying to grasp smoke. This theme is introduced early in the book, as seen in Ecclesiastes 1:2.
  • Vexation of Spirit (re'ut ruach): This phrase, often translated as "striving after wind" or "chasing the wind," vividly portrays the frustration and futility of trying to find ultimate meaning in transient earthly pursuits. It's an endless, unsatisfying endeavor.
  • "No Profit Under the Sun": The phrase "under the sun" is a distinctive motif in Ecclesiastes, referring to life as observed purely from a human, earthly perspective, without divine revelation or eternal hope. From this limited viewpoint, the Preacher finds no true "profit" or lasting benefit in all his toil and accumulation. This idea is echoed in Ecclesiastes 1:3.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word hebel (הֶבֶל), translated as "vanity," appears over 30 times in Ecclesiastes and is crucial to understanding its message. It conveys transience, emptiness, and absurdity. The phrase re'ut ruach (רְעוּת רוּחַ), "vexation of spirit," further emphasizes the frustrating and unsatisfying nature of these fleeting pursuits, akin to trying to catch the wind—it's an effort that yields nothing tangible or lasting.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 2:11 serves as a profound reminder that true and lasting satisfaction cannot be found in material wealth, worldly achievements, or sensual pleasures alone. While these things are not inherently evil, they are insufficient to fill the human heart's deepest longings. The Preacher's conclusion challenges us to examine where we are seeking our ultimate meaning and purpose. It points us toward the understanding that genuine fulfillment comes from a right relationship with God and living according to His will, as the book's ultimate conclusion suggests in Ecclesiastes 12:13. This verse encourages us to shift our focus from temporary earthly gains to eternal values, recognizing that God has "set eternity in their heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • 1 John 2:17

    And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:3

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

  • Exodus 39:43

    And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

  • Genesis 1:31

    ¶ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

  • 1 Timothy 6:6

    ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

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