The big picture
Ecclesiastes 1 opens in verse 1 with “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that…”, and closes in verse 18 with “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” Repeated or prominent terms include wisdom, heart, vanity, Jerusalem, Preacher. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Ecclesiastes · King James Version · 18Ecclesiastes 1:1-6
1–6: The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:1–6 opens with “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” and reaches “The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Generations passing while sun, wind, and rivers continue their cycles and a teacher observes the city, with particular weight carried by vanity, generation, goeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-6
King James Version1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
Ecclesiastes 1:7-12
7–12: All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place…
Ecclesiastes 1:7–12 opens with “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers…” and reaches “I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Generations passing while sun, wind, and rivers continue their cycles and a teacher observes the city, with particular weight carried by thing, full, remembrance.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they…” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Ecclesiastes 1:7-12
King James Version7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:13-18
13–18: I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things…
Ecclesiastes 1:13–18 opens with “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under…” and reaches “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Generations passing while sun, wind, and rivers continue their cycles and a teacher observes the city, with particular weight carried by wisdom, heart, gave.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” The line’s distinctive content terms include seen, spirit, vanity. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.
Ecclesiastes 1:13-18
King James Version13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ecclesiastes 1:1 begins with “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”
Where the chapter turns
Ecclesiastes 1:10 forms a natural hinge: “Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”
The final note
Ecclesiastes 1:18 leaves the reader with “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wisdom, heart, vanity, Jerusalem, Preacher, thing help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.