Ecclesiastes 2:17
Old Testament • 11 words with Strong's data
"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."
Word-by-Word Analysis
כֵּן
kên
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner...
חַי
chay
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin...
פָּנִים
pânîym
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi...
מַעֲשֶׂה
maʻăseh
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
עָשָׂה
ʻâsâh
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שֶׁמֶשׁ
shemesh
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
כָּבֵד
kâbêd
heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)
הֶבֶל
hebel
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
רְעוּת
rᵉʻûwth
a feeding upon, i.e. grasping after
רוּחַ
rûwach
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the ...
Key Terms in This Verse
כָּבֵד kâbêd
heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)
Study H3515 →הֶבֶל hebel
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
Study H1892 →עָשָׂה ʻâsâh
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Study H6213 →שֶׁמֶשׁ shemesh
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
Study H8121 →מַעֲשֶׂה maʻăseh
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
Study H4639 →חַי chay
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
Study H2416 →רוּחַ rûwach
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational...
Study H7307 →פָּנִים pânîym
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
Study H6440 →Cross References
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.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for ...
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my l...
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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