Revision #10269
Ecclesiastes 12:8
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Context
=
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 summarizes the words of "the Preacher." The term renders the Hebrew *Qoheleth*, understood to mean one who gathers an assembly and teaches it. Ecclesiastes 1:1 introduces him as "the son of David, king in Jerusalem." Tradition has regarded Solomon as the author, while some scholars hold that the book was written at a later date.
+ Ecclesiastes 12:8 summarizes the words of "the Preacher." The title renders the Hebrew *Qoheleth*, usually understood as one who gathers an assembly and teaches it. Ecclesiastes 1:1 introduces him as "the son of David, king in Jerusalem." Tradition has regarded Solomon as the author, while some scholars date the book later.
=
- The immediately preceding passage, Ecclesiastes 12:1–7, urges the reader to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." It then depicts old age and death through a series of images and closes with the dust returning to the earth and the spirit returning to God. Verse 8 follows by repeating the declaration of Ecclesiastes 1:2 almost word for word. For this reason the book is commonly described as framed by the same words at its beginning and end, forming an inclusio.
+ The preceding passage, Ecclesiastes 12:1–7, urges the reader to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." It then portrays old age and death through a series of images and ends with the dust returning to the earth and the spirit returning to God. Verse 8 then repeats the declaration of Ecclesiastes 1:2 almost word for word. The book is therefore commonly described as framed by the same words at its beginning and end, an arrangement known as an inclusio.
=
- Verse 8 refers to the Preacher in the third person: "saith the preacher." Verses 9–14 likewise present the Preacher in the third person and serve as a conclusion. Accordingly, many interpreters treat verse 8 as the final sentence of the main body and regard verse 9 onward as an epilogue.
+ Verse 8 refers to the Preacher in the third person ("saith the preacher"). Verses 9–14 also present the Preacher in the third person and serve as a conclusion. For this reason, many interpreters treat verse 8 as the final sentence of the main body and verses 9–14 as an epilogue.
=
= ## Interpretation
=
- The Hebrew word *hevel*, translated "vanity," originally means breath, vapor, or mist. "Vanity of vanities" doubles the word to form a superlative expression. The Septuagint renders it *mataiotēs*, and the Latin Vulgate *vanitas vanitatum*.
+ The Hebrew word *hevel*, translated "vanity," originally means breath, vapor, or mist. "Vanity of vanities" repeats the word to form a superlative. The Septuagint renders it *mataiotēs*, and the Latin Vulgate renders the phrase *vanitas vanitatum*.
=
- - **Devotional and didactic reading**: The verse is read as the realization that wealth, wisdom, and pleasure pursued "under the sun" apart from God are ultimately empty. This realization is seen as leading to the conclusion of Ecclesiastes 12:13–14: "Fear God, and keep his commandments." This is the reading most widely used in preaching in Korean churches.
- - **Reading as "transience"**: This reading understands *hevel* not so much as "meaninglessness" as "that which cannot be grasped" or "that which exists briefly and vanishes." It takes the verse not as a declaration that life is worthless but as a confession that human beings cannot control life. Its proponents point out that this fits well with the depiction of death that immediately precedes it.
- - **Pessimistic and skeptical reading**: Some scholars regard the Preacher's conclusion itself as pessimistic. They interpret the epilogue of verses 9–14 as placing it within the framework of traditional faith.
+ - **Devotional and didactic reading**: This reading takes the verse as the realization that wealth, wisdom, and pleasure pursued "under the sun" apart from God are ultimately empty. That realization leads to the conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13–14: "Fear God, and keep his commandments."
+ - **Reading as "transience"**: This reading understands *hevel* less as "meaninglessness" than as "that which cannot be grasped" or "that which exists briefly and vanishes." On this view, the verse does not declare that life is worthless. Instead, it confesses that human beings cannot control life. Proponents note that this reading fits the depiction of death that immediately precedes the verse.
+ - **Pessimistic and skeptical reading**: Some scholars regard the Preacher's conclusion itself as pessimistic. They interpret the epilogue in verses 9–14 as placing that conclusion within the framework of traditional faith.
=
= ## Questions of Application
=
- There is little significant interpretive dispute between denominations. Conservative and critical views do, however, diverge on the questions of authorship and date of composition.
+ The verse has not caused significant interpretive dispute between denominations. Conservative and critical views do, however, differ on the book's authorship and date of composition.
=
- Regarding application, some observe that quoting "all is vanity" in isolation can make it sound as though work or ordinary life is being disparaged. Ecclesiastes repeatedly describes the enjoyment found in eating, drinking, and labor as a gift of God. For this reason, it is argued, this verse too should be read within the flow of the book as a whole.
+ On application, some observe that quoting "all is vanity" in isolation can make the phrase sound dismissive of work and ordinary life. Ecclesiastes repeatedly presents the enjoyment found in eating, drinking, and labor as a gift of God. These interpreters therefore argue that the verse should be read within the flow of the book as a whole.
=
- Among Korean translations, the Korean Revised Version (New Edition) retains the archaic verb form for "is vanity," while the New Korean Standard Version renders it with a modern verb ending. Some English translations render the term as "meaningless" or "fleeting."
+ Translations render the key word differently. Some English versions use "meaningless" or "fleeting." Among Korean translations, the Korean Revised Version (New Edition) keeps the traditional archaic wording for "is vanity," while the New Korean Standard Version uses a modern verb ending.
=
= ## In the Korean Church
=
- The Korean Revised Version's rendering of "vanity of vanities" is a well-known expression even outside the church. In preaching, this verse is usually treated not on its own but together with the passage on "the days of thy youth" in Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 and the conclusion in verses 13–14.
+ In Korean Protestant preaching, the devotional and didactic reading is the most widely used. The Korean Revised Version's rendering of "vanity of vanities" is also well known outside the church in Korea. Korean sermons usually treat the verse together with the passage on "the days of thy youth" in Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 and the conclusion in verses 13–14 rather than on its own.
=
= ## Related Passages
…
The verse that concludes the main body of Ecclesiastes, repeating the book's opening declaration in 1:2, "Vanity of vanities," to sum up the transience of life under the sun. It is often cited as the thematic statement of the whole book, and the meaning of "vanity" has been interpreted in several ways.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 concludes the main body of the book. It repeats the opening declaration of Ecclesiastes 1:2, "Vanity of vanities," to sum up the transience of life under the sun. The verse is often cited as the thematic statement of the whole book, and interpreters understand "vanity" in several ways.
Full revision
Ecclesiastes 12:8 concludes the main body of the book. It repeats the opening declaration of Ecclesiastes 1:2, "Vanity of vanities," to sum up the transience of life under the sun. The verse is often cited as the thematic statement of the whole book, and interpreters understand "vanity" in several ways.
Context
Ecclesiastes 12:8 summarizes the words of "the Preacher." The title renders the Hebrew Qoheleth, usually understood as one who gathers an assembly and teaches it. Ecclesiastes 1:1 introduces him as "the son of David, king in Jerusalem." Tradition has regarded Solomon as the author, while some scholars date the book later.
The preceding passage, Ecclesiastes 12:1–7, urges the reader to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." It then portrays old age and death through a series of images and ends with the dust returning to the earth and the spirit returning to God. Verse 8 then repeats the declaration of Ecclesiastes 1:2 almost word for word. The book is therefore commonly described as framed by the same words at its beginning and end, an arrangement known as an inclusio.
Verse 8 refers to the Preacher in the third person ("saith the preacher"). Verses 9–14 also present the Preacher in the third person and serve as a conclusion. For this reason, many interpreters treat verse 8 as the final sentence of the main body and verses 9–14 as an epilogue.
Interpretation
The Hebrew word hevel, translated "vanity," originally means breath, vapor, or mist. "Vanity of vanities" repeats the word to form a superlative. The Septuagint renders it mataiotēs, and the Latin Vulgate renders the phrase vanitas vanitatum.
- Devotional and didactic reading: This reading takes the verse as the realization that wealth, wisdom, and pleasure pursued "under the sun" apart from God are ultimately empty. That realization leads to the conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13–14: "Fear God, and keep his commandments."
- Reading as "transience": This reading understands hevel less as "meaninglessness" than as "that which cannot be grasped" or "that which exists briefly and vanishes." On this view, the verse does not declare that life is worthless. Instead, it confesses that human beings cannot control life. Proponents note that this reading fits the depiction of death that immediately precedes the verse.
- Pessimistic and skeptical reading: Some scholars regard the Preacher's conclusion itself as pessimistic. They interpret the epilogue in verses 9–14 as placing that conclusion within the framework of traditional faith.
Questions of Application
The verse has not caused significant interpretive dispute between denominations. Conservative and critical views do, however, differ on the book's authorship and date of composition.
On application, some observe that quoting "all is vanity" in isolation can make the phrase sound dismissive of work and ordinary life. Ecclesiastes repeatedly presents the enjoyment found in eating, drinking, and labor as a gift of God. These interpreters therefore argue that the verse should be read within the flow of the book as a whole.
Translations render the key word differently. Some English versions use "meaningless" or "fleeting." Among Korean translations, the Korean Revised Version (New Edition) keeps the traditional archaic wording for "is vanity," while the New Korean Standard Version uses a modern verb ending.
In the Korean Church
In Korean Protestant preaching, the devotional and didactic reading is the most widely used. The Korean Revised Version's rendering of "vanity of vanities" is also well known outside the church in Korea. Korean sermons usually treat the verse together with the passage on "the days of thy youth" in Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 and the conclusion in verses 13–14 rather than on its own.
Related Passages