One of the key words in Ecclesiastes is the Hebrew word hevel. It’s the word that the King James translated “vanity,” as in “vanity of vanities.” As I mentioned in the last post, Leland Ryken has argued that this word should be translated “vapor.” This word occurs throughout the book, in the following verses: 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:19; 4:4, 7-8, 16; 5:7, 10; 6:2, 4, 9, 11; 7:6; 8:10, 14; 11:8, 10; 12:8.

This word is used to describe everything pertaining to this life, to earthly things, to things found “under the sun.” It’s a major point in this book, that the things of this world are so temporary that it’s foolish to spend too much time worrying about them. Human achievement, material possessions, relationships, etc.… all are hevel, all are vanity, all are mere vapor.

Interestingly enough, this word is translated differently in Genesis 4, where it is used as a proper name: Abel. Abel’s life stands as an illustration of the elusiveness of life, the temporary nature of all human existence. Ecclesiastes chooses this word to emphasize the meaninglessness of man’s endeavour’s here on earth.

The New Testament talks about the same concept in a different way, emphasizing the fact that this difficult life is nothing compared to the eternal life that is waiting for us. (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10)

Life is short. Eternity is long. That’s part of the message of Ecclesiastes.