Emily Grise

Professor Baker

Intro. To the Old Testament

6 December 2022

Final Paper: Is It All Just Vanity?

Ecclesiastes 1 and 2 presents the idea that everything is vanity. Solomon tells readers that

seeking fulfillment through anything is a form of vanity. Vanity has two definitions. The one that

most commonly comes to mind when thinking of vanity is, “excessive pride in or admiration of

one's own appearance or achievements.”1 I would argue, however, that in Ecclesiastes the second

definition best describes its use. This is, “the quality of being worthless or futile.”2 Now, let’s

look at the meaning of the word as translated from Hebrew. The footnote attached to Ecclesiastes

1:2 reads, “The Hebrew term hebel, translated vanity or vain, refers concretely to a “mist,”

“vapor,” or “mere breath,” and metaphorically is something that is fleeting or elusive (with

different nuances depending on the context).” This description of something as being fleeting

connects to the second English definition of vanity. To pursue something that never lasts for a

long period of time is pointless.

I took a survey including two questions: “What do you do to pursue happiness?” and

“Does this work for you?” The first time I asked people these questions, answers for the first

question included playing Papa’s Games (a series of restaurant serving app store games),

hanging out with friends, and watching comfort shows. I asked more people at a later time and

received the answers give myself goals to achieve, spend quality time with those who uplift me,
1
Oxford Dictionary. “Elusive.” Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 20 May 2019.
2
Oxford Dictionary. “Vanity.” Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 20 May 2019.
surround myself with people who treat me well, and stick to routines. There are common

answers around the people one is around and doing things that bring organization (the goals and

routine). When asked the third question, every person responded yes, some saying mostly yes.

Most of these answers are things that do not seem to be fleeting within the world, at least in the

short time of one lifespan, but the happiness brought about is fleeting. The games are going to be

there until they are deleted from the app store, and there will always be television shows to

watch. The feelings of happiness produced by playing these games or watching these shows are

fleeting. They come and go with the presence and absence of whatever one depends upon for

happiness or satisfaction. It is common for people to shift from one interest to the next. Elusive,

used in the translation of hebel means “difficult to find, catch, or achieve.”3 This explains why

people often change where they seek their happiness. Total happiness is difficult to find, so when

one attempt is unfulfilling, people simply move on to the next possibility. This parallels

Solomon’s writings in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2.

Solomon focuses, in chapter 1 verses 3 through 7, on how, despite anything people do or

how big of a deal anything seems in a moment, the world will continue. Verse four reads, “A

generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” People are born, do

things, then pass away. The Earth, however, continues to house the next generation. Nature

continues with the daily rising and setting of the sun (v. 5), the wind blowing to the south then

around to the north (v. 6), and the streams flowing to the sea which never fills up (v. 7). The

quote “The Earth is just a giant floating rock,” is often used to put things into perspective in the

same way these verses do. Individuals are very small in comparison to the earth. Nothing one

person does can cause an impact that would change this. This seems slightly depressing but can

3
Oxford Dictionary. “Vanity.” Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 20 May 2019.
also be freeing. It serves as a reminder that nothing is as serious or as big of a deal as people

often make it seem.

Another quote used today that parallels Solomon’s writing is “If you cannot remember it

in a few years, it is not worth worrying about now.” Ecclesiastes 1:11 reads, “There is no

remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be

among who come after.” The things one does will not be remembered by the people of their time

just as the people of the past did not remember what their people did. The people of the future

will not remember anything one has done because they cannot even remember what the people

of their time have done. This puts our actions and worries into perspective. However, instead of

focusing on the scale of the earth, it focuses on the grand scale of time. Time continues to go on

no matter what people do, so there is no need to worry about anything.

Solomon introduces the idea that, along with every attempt at satisfaction being vanity, it is also

“a striving after wind” in verse 14 of chapter 1. Wind is impossible to grasp, so to strive, or make

an effort to obtain, for it is pointless. This is also written as “a feeding on wind.” This brings us

back to the idea of fleeting. If one were to literally attempt to feed on wind, not only would they

look foolish, but they would also experience no lasting satisfaction. Solomon is telling us that

seeking satisfaction in a place that provides none is not only pointless, but also makes us look

foolish.

In Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 discusses the vanity of wisdom. Solomon received wisdom as a

gift from God, so it is interesting to see him associate it with the idea of being pointless or

worthless. Having exposure to this much wisdom gives Solomon a unique perspective. He is able

to see both the positive and negative aspects of it, making him a credible author on this subject.

Wisdom dies with us, so is also considered a striving after a wind. It ultimately has no effect on
the earth, so it is pointless to strive for. This would be easier to accept if it were not that

Christians are expected to grow in knowledge and wisdom. There is even an entire book of the

Bible on it. Proverbs 4:6-7 reads, “Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she

will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get

insight.” This positive view on wisdom is confusing when compared to the negative description

written by Solomon.

Wisdom is important in the Christian faith but should not be put ahead of a relationship

with God. This is the single most important part. It is what provides complete happiness and

satisfaction. To seek these things in any place outside of here is vanity. It is wise to realize that

wisdom is no force against the importance of fostering a relationship with God. Provers 21:30

reads, “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.” This is why we

are to invest in what is everlasting. This is a relationship with God that results in a unified,

eternal life after death. Nothing we can seek within this world is capable to bring the joy that

God can. Not the people one is around. Or the video games one plays. Or the amounts of routines

or goals one can set. These can bring short term happiness but chasing these expecting anything

else is vanity and “a striving after wind.”

 Bibliography

1. Oxford Dictionary. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 20 May

2019.