Ecclesiastes 7:6

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

For as the crackling {H6963} of thorns {H5518} under a pot {H5518}, so is the laughter {H7814} of the fool {H3684}: this also is vanity {H1892}.

For the laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot; this too is pointless.

For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

Commentary

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:6

Ecclesiastes 7:6 is part of a broader section (Ecclesiastes 7:1-14) where Qoheleth, the Preacher, explores the complexities of life, contrasting wisdom with folly and good with evil. This chapter delves into paradoxes, often preferring difficult truths over easy pleasures. Prior verses in chapter 7 discuss the value of sorrow over laughter (Ecclesiastes 7:3) and the heart of the wise being in the house of mourning, while the heart of fools is in the house of mirth (Ecclesiastes 7:4). Verse 6 serves as a vivid illustration and reinforcement of this contrast, highlighting the superficiality of foolish joy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Nature of Folly and its Laughter: The verse employs a powerful metaphor: "as the crackling of thorns under a pot." Thorns burn fiercely and noisily but produce little lasting heat and quickly consume themselves. Similarly, the laughter of the fool is loud, boisterous, and superficial, lacking substance or depth. It is a fleeting, unproductive outburst that quickly fades, leaving nothing of value behind.
  • Vanity and Emptiness: The concluding phrase, "this also is vanity," connects the fool's laughter directly to the overarching theme of Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word for "vanity" is hebel (Χ”ΦΆΧ‘ΦΆΧœ), signifying breath, vapor, futility, or emptiness. The Preacher asserts that the fool's laughter is not only short-lived but ultimately meaningless, contributing nothing enduring to life "under the sun." It is a prime example of the transient and unfulfilling pursuits that define much of human existence apart from God. For more on this central theme, see Ecclesiastes 1:2.
  • Contrast Between Wisdom and Folly: Implicitly, this verse highlights the vast difference between the wise and the foolish. The wise person seeks lasting truth and understanding, often finding depth in sober reflection, while the fool chases fleeting pleasures and superficial mirth. This contrasts the fleeting joy of the fool with the deeper, more sober reflection of the wise.

Linguistic Insights

The term "vanity" (Hebrew: hebel) is a cornerstone of Ecclesiastes, appearing over 30 times. It paints a picture of life's transient and often frustrating aspects when viewed solely from an earthly perspective. The "fool" (Hebrew: kesil - Χ›Φ°ΦΌΧ‘Φ΄Χ™Χœ) in biblical wisdom literature, particularly in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, is not merely someone lacking intelligence, but rather one who is morally obtuse, resistant to instruction, and rejects wisdom and the fear of the Lord. Their laughter is a symptom of their spiritual and moral superficiality.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 7:6 prompts us to evaluate the sources of our own joy and the nature of our laughter. Are we pursuing superficial pleasures that are loud but quickly burn out, leaving us empty? Or are we seeking deeper, more enduring joy that comes from wisdom, understanding, and a right relationship with God? The verse serves as a caution against mistaking outward merriment for true happiness or substance. It encourages a life rooted in wisdom and spiritual discernment, which ultimately yields more profound and lasting satisfaction than the fleeting, noisy amusements of the foolish.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 118:12

    They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

  • Psalms 58:9

    Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:2

    I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

  • 2 Peter 2:13

    And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

  • 2 Peter 2:17

    These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

  • Amos 8:10

    And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only [son], and the end thereof as a bitter day.

  • Jude 1:12

    These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
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