Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
Parallel translations
- WEB For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
- BSB For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
- ESV The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
- NKJV Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?
- NASB For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person?
- NLT The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The more words, the more vanity, and what does that profit anyone? It matters because endless talk and argument add emptiness rather than gain.
Overview
The Preacher notes that multiplying words only increases futility, echoing his earlier warnings about speech (5:2-3,7). Words alone cannot master life's mysteries or secure real profit. This restrains human pretension and points toward the one Word that truly profits, the Word made flesh, in whom God has spoken decisively (Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Eccl 4:16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 5:7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
- Eccl 4:8There 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.
- Eccl 3:19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
- Hos 12:1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
- Eccl 4:1–4So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
- Eccl 1:17–18And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
- Eccl 2:3–11I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
- Eccl 1:6–9The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
- Ps 73:6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 6:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.