Ecclesiastes 1:14 Meaning and Explanation
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Surveying everything done under the sun, the Preacher finds it all fleeting, like chasing after the wind.
What Does Ecclesiastes 1:14 Mean?
The Preacher reports the first result of his investigation. Having observed all the works done 'under the sun,' he concludes that they are vanity and a 'vexation of spirit,' an expression that carries the sense of grasping at wind, reaching for what cannot be caught.
His verdict is not cynicism but clear sight. Effort spent to seize lasting meaning from this world alone returns empty hands. By exposing the chase as futile, the verse spares the reader years of grasping after vapor and turns the heart toward what can actually be held: the abiding goodness of God, who alone gives weight and rest to a life.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 in the Original Language
ruach (רוּחַ), 'spirit' -- breath or wind; the phrase pictures a chasing after, or feeding on, the wind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 1:14
What does Ecclesiastes 1:14 mean?
Surveying everything done under the sun, the Preacher finds it all fleeting, like chasing after the wind.