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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 1:4–11

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
The 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.
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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8 selected · 2 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

37 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 4

  1. Psalms 104:5Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

  2. Ecclesiastes 6:12Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  3. Zechariah 1:5Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    5Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

  4. Matthew 24:35Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

  5. Psalms 119:90–91Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    90Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

    91They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

From verse 5

  1. Habakkuk 3:11Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

  2. Psalms 19:4–6Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

    5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

    6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

  3. Psalms 42:1Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    1AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

  4. Genesis 8:22Rank 4 from verse 5
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    22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

  5. Joshua 10:13–14Rank 5 from verse 5
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    13And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

    14And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.

From verse 6

  1. John 3:8Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

  2. Ecclesiastes 11:5Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

  3. Job 37:17Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    17How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

  4. Job 37:9Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    9Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

  5. Psalms 107:25Rank 5 from verse 6
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    25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

From verse 7

  1. Job 38:10–11Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

    11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

  2. Psalms 104:6–9Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

    7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

    8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

    9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

From verse 8

  1. Proverbs 27:20Rank 1 from verse 8
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    20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  2. Matthew 11:28Rank 2 from verse 8
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    28¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  3. Ecclesiastes 4:8Rank 3 from verse 8
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    8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

  4. Ecclesiastes 2:11Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

  5. Ecclesiastes 2:26Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

From verse 9

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:15Rank 1 from verse 9
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    15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

  2. Ecclesiastes 6:10Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

  3. Revelation 21:1Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    1AND I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

  4. Ecclesiastes 2:12Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    12¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

  5. Ecclesiastes 7:10Rank 5 from verse 9
    Open

    10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

From verse 10

  1. Acts 7:51Rank 1 from verse 10
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    51¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  2. Luke 17:26–30Rank 2 from verse 10
    Open

    26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

    27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

    28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

    29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

    30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

  3. Matthew 23:30–32Rank 3 from verse 10
    Open

    30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

    31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

    32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

  4. 2 Timothy 3:8Rank 4 from verse 10
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    8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

  5. Matthew 5:12Rank 5 from verse 10
    Open

    12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

From verse 11

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:16Rank 1 from verse 11
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    16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

  2. Psalms 9:6Rank 2 from verse 11
    Open

    6O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

  3. Ecclesiastes 9:5Rank 3 from verse 11
    Open

    5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

  4. Isaiah 42:9Rank 4 from verse 11
    Open

    9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

  5. Isaiah 41:22–26Rank 5 from verse 11
    Open

    22Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

    23Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

    24Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

    25I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

    26Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:4

COMBINED MEANING

passeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of pass, meaning to go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

another

↗

1. In "one another" and like reciprocal or distributive constructions, each the other, or one in relation to the other or others. 2. One other, one more, or a different or additional person or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for ever

↗

1. Without end; for all time. 2. Continually or permanently throughout the duration in view.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ever

↗

At any time; always or continually; throughout all time or for ever.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:5

COMBINED MEANING

sun

↗

The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hasteth

↗

Third-person singular present form of haste (to hurry, act quickly, or make speed).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

place

↗

Sense 1: A physical location or room. Sense 2: A position or office. Sense 3: An occasion, circumstance, or passage. Sense 4: To set, fix, locate, or establish.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

arose

↗

1. Rose, stood up, got up, or moved upward from a lower, lying, seated, fallen, or inactive position. 2. Began, emerged, appeared, came into being, or came forward. 3. Took action, intervened, or undertook the stated work. 4. Rose from death; returned to life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:6

COMBINED MEANING

wind

↗

Sense 1: Air in motion; a current of air. Sense 2: Breath or a movement of air from breathing. Sense 3: By figure, something empty, unstable, or passing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

toward

↗

1. In the direction of or in relation to. 2. Approaching. 3. Inclined or ready.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

turneth

↗

Third-person singular present form of turn, meaning to change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

north

↗

The direction or quarter opposite south; the side or region toward that quarter.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whirleth

↗

Turns, spins, or moves rapidly around and around in a recurring course or circuit.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

continually

↗

1. Repeatedly, habitually, or at every appointed recurrence. 2. Without pause or cessation during the period stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

again

↗

Another time; once more; back to a former place or condition; or in return.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:7

COMBINED MEANING

run

↗

To move swiftly on foot; to flow, spread, proceed, continue, or carry out a course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sea

↗

1. A great body or expanse of gathered waters, including a named sea or lake, in which ships and creatures move. 2. The large brazen or molten basin made for the temple and called a sea. 3. Something represented or compared as a sea.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

place

↗

Sense 1: A physical location or room. Sense 2: A position or office. Sense 3: An occasion, circumstance, or passage. Sense 4: To set, fix, locate, or establish.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

return

↗

Sense 1: To go, come, send, or give back; to restore, answer, or turn again. Sense 2: The act or time of coming back or recurring.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

again

↗

Another time; once more; back to a former place or condition; or in return.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:8

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

utter

↗

1. To speak, declare, or make known. 2. Outermost or complete.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

eye

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ of sight; by extension, sight or seeing. Sense 2: Regard, judgment, disposition, or watchful attention, expressed figuratively by the eye. Sense 3: A small opening, as the eye of a needle. Sense 4: To watch or regard.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

satisfied

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of satisfy (to fill, content, supply sufficiently, or meet what is required).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

seeing

↗

1. As a connective, because, since, or in view of a stated fact. 2. Perceiving with the eyes; observing. 3. Recognizing, discerning, understanding, or foreseeing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ear

↗

Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

filled

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of fill. Sense 1: To make full or occupy capacity. Sense 2: To satisfy. Sense 3: To occupy. Sense 4: To complete what is lacking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hearing

↗

Sense 1: The act or faculty of perceiving sound. Sense 2: Audience, attention, or an opportunity to be heard. Sense 3: The range within which sound can be heard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:9

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

new

↗

Recently made, begun, known, or received; fresh, different, or not old.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sun

↗

The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:10

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

new

↗

Recently made, begun, known, or received; fresh, different, or not old.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

old

↗

1. Advanced in age or existing for a long time. 2. Of the stated or specified age. 3. Ancient, former, previous, or worn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 1:11

COMBINED MEANING

remembrance

↗

1. The act or state of remembering; recollection or mindful regard; the continued memory or notice of someone or something. 2. Something that brings or keeps someone or something to mind; a memorial or reminder.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rememberance

↗

1. The act or state of remembering; recollection or mindful regard; the continued memory or notice of someone or something. 2. Something that brings or keeps someone or something to mind; a memorial or reminder.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

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.

Selected passage

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Selected passage

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.

Selected passage

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

Selected passage

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Selected passage

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.

Selected passage

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Selected passage

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.

Selected passage

12¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

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