John Gill Commentary Ecclesiastes 1:14

"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind." — Ecclesiastes 1:14 (ASV)

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun

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 (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 world;"

and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit ; not only the things known, but the knowledge of them; it is mere vanity, there is nothing solid and substantial in it, or that can make a man happy; yea, on the contrary, it is vexatious and distressing; it is not only a weariness to the flesh to obtain it, but, in the reflection of it, gives pain and uneasiness to the mind: it is a "breaking of the spirit"^F14 of the man, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Alshech, interpret the phrase; it wastes and consumes his spirit, as well as his time, and all to no purpose; it is, as some ancient Greek versions and others render it, and not amiss, a "feeding on wind"^F15; what is useless and unprofitable, and like labouring for that; see (Hosea 12:1) (Job 15:2) (Ecclesiastes 5:16); and so Aben Ezra.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: (xwr twer) "affiictio spiritus", V. L. Junius & Tremellius; "contritio spiritus", so some in Vatablus.
• F15: (nomh anemou) , Aquila; "pastio venti", Mercerus, Piscator, Gejerus, Amama.