Ecclesiastes 1:14

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, etc.] All things done by the Lord, that were on the earth, and in it, and in the sea; he considered them, and endeavoured to search into the nature of them; and did attain to a very great knowledge of them, so that he could speak of them to the instruction of others; (see <110433>1 Kings 4:33); and all that were done by men, by their head, or by their hands; all that were written or wrought by them; all their philosophical works and experiments, and all their mechanic operations; as well as all their good and bad works, in a moral sense; so the Targum, “I saw all the deeds of the children of men, which are done under the sun in this…”

“The reason is here given why investigation into man's "works" is only "sore travail" (Ecc 1:13); namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ecc 1:18) and cannot be mended (Ecc 1:15). vexation of--"a preying upon" the Spirit--MAURER translates; "the pursuit of wind," as in Ecc 5:16; Hos 12:1, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." But old versions support the English Version.”

“Vexation of spirit - A phrase which occurs 7 times, and may be otherwise translated, “feeding on wind.” Modern Hebrew grammarians assert that the word rendered “vexation” must be derived from a root signifying “to feed,” “follow,” “strive after.” This being admitted, it remains to choose between two translations: (1) “striving after wind,” or “windy effort;” adopted by the Septuagint and the majority of modern interpreters; or (2) feeding on wind. Compare Hosea 12:1 : and similar phrases in Proverbs 15:14; Isaiah 44:20; Psalms 37:3. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Seen - Diligently observed. Vanity - Not only unsatisfying, but also an affliction or breaking to a man's spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:15”

“1:14 like chasing the wind: Just as the wind quickly comes and goes, so does life.”

“Ecc 1:17, Ecc 1:18, Ecc 2:11, Ecc 2:17, Ecc 2:26; Kg1 4:30-32; Psa 39:5, Psa 39:6 Ecclesiastes 1:15”

“He adduces proof of the wearisomeness of this work of research: "I saw all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind." The point of the sentence lies in והנּה = וארא וה, so that thus rathi is the expression of the parallel fact (circumst. perfect). The result of his seeing, and that, as he has said Ecc 1:13, of a by no means superficial and limited seeing, was a discovery of the fleeting, unsubstantial, fruitless nature of all human actions and endeavours. They had, as hevel expresses, not reality in them; and also, as denoted by reuth ruahh (the lxx render well by προαίρεσις πνεύματος), they had no actual consequences, no real issue. Hos…”