The words of KohelethaKoheleth Probably “the Assembler,” namely of hearers or of sayings; cf. 12.9–11. son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Word-by-Word Analysis
דברי
216
קהלת
535
בןדוד
66
מלך
90
בירושלם
588
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Gematria: 1116
הבלהבליםאמרקהלתהבלהבליםהכלהבל
Utter futility!—said Koheleth—Utter futility! All is futile!
Word-by-Word Analysis
הבל
37
הבלים
87
אמר
241
קהלת
535
הבל
37
הבלים
87
הכל
55
הבל
37
Ecclesiastes 1:3
Gematria: 2887
מהיתרוןלאדםבכלעמלושיעמלתחתהשמש
What real value is there for humankindIn all the gainsbgains So Rashbam. Heb. ʻamal usually has this sense in Ecclesiastes; cf. Ps. 105.44. they make beneath the sun?
Word-by-Word Analysis
מהיתרון
711
לאדם
75
בכלעמלו
198
שיעמל
450
תחת
808
השמש
645
Ecclesiastes 1:4
Gematria: 1476
דורהלךודורבאוהארץלעולםעמדת
One generation goes, another comes,But the earth remains the same forever.
Word-by-Word Analysis
דור
210
הלך
55
ודור
216
בא
3
והארץ
302
לעולם
176
עמדת
514
Ecclesiastes 1:5
Gematria: 2709
וזרחהשמשובאהשמשואלמקומושואףזורחהואשם
The sun rises, and the sun sets—And glidescglides So Targum; cf. Bereshith Rabbah on Gen. 1.17. back to where it rises.
All streams flow into the sea,Yet the sea is never full;To the place [from] which they flowThe streams flow back again.dflow back again According to popular belief, through tunnels; so Targum and Rashi.
The earlier ones are not remembered; so too those that will occur later will no more be remembered thanewill no more be remembered than Lit. “will not be remembered like…” For ʻim meaning “like,” cf. 2.16; 7.11; Job 9.26. those that will occur at the very end.
I set my mind to study and to probe with wisdom all that happens under the sun.—An unhappy business, that, which God gave mortals to be concerned with!
Word-by-Word Analysis
ונתתי
866
אתלבי
443
לדרוש
540
ולתור
642
בחכמה
75
על
100
כלאשר
551
נעשה
425
תחת
808
השמים
395
הוא
12
ענין
180
רע
270
נתן
500
אלהים
86
לבני
92
האדם
50
לענות
556
בו
8
Ecclesiastes 1:14
Gematria: 4770
ראיתיאתכלהמעשיםשנעשותחתהשמשוהנההכלהבלורעותרוח
I observed all the happenings beneath the sun, and I found that all is futile and pursuitfpursuit Lit. “tending,” from root rʻh, “to shepherd.” of wind:
Word-by-Word Analysis
ראיתי
621
אתכלהמעשים
916
שנעשו
726
תחת
808
השמש
645
והנה
66
הכל
55
הבל
37
ורעות
682
רוח
214
Ecclesiastes 1:15
Gematria: 2151
מעותלאיוכללתקןוחסרוןלאיוכללהמנות
A twisted thing that cannot be made straight,A lack that cannot be made good.
I said to myself: “Here I have grown richer and wiser than any who ruled before me over Jerusalem, and my mind has zealously absorbed wisdom and learning.”