Vanity, Futility, Absurdity

The key thematic term hevel (הֶבֶל, hevel) occurs 38 times in the book of Ecclesiastes. It appears in the thematic refrains in both the opening and concluding chapters (1:2; 12:8). The term occurs far more often in Ecclesiastes than anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible (38 of 73 occurrences of the noun).

Hevel (הֶבֶל, hevel) is often translated in Ecclesiastes as “vanity” (ESV; NKJV) or “meaningless” (NIV). However, this translation may not capture the full meaning of the term. For example, 15 occurrences of the term are part of a closing refrain, “this also is hevel,” which often describes situations where the expected results do not fit the actual results (הֶבֶל, hevel; see 2:1, 15, 19, 21, 23, 26; 4:4, 8, 16; 5:10; 6:2, 9; 7:6; 8:10, 14). In these situations, the term refers to an inherent and frustrating sense of injustice or unfairness and could be rendered “senseless,” “absurd,” or “unfair” (compare Fox, “The Meaning of Hebel for Qohelet,” 413).

One situation that Qoheleth deems hevel is the recognition that, while there is more value in wisdom than foolishness (2:13–14), ultimately mere human wisdom does not offer any permanent advantage over foolishness because the wise person and the foolish person share the same fate (2:14–16). The use of the repeated parallel phrase “grasping for the wind” (e.g., 2:17 NKJV) confirms that even the most determined effort “under the sun” lacks any “advantage” or “edge” (יִתְרוֹן, yithron).