Eccesiastes 1:5, King James Version of The Bible
"The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose..."
2007-09-16 11:02:45 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Read it with the rest of the chapter. It means physical things are meaningless (look to the spiritual).
Life goes on - the sun rises and sets, people are born and people die, and more are born. The earth "abideth forever" but men are only here for a short time, - seek wisdom while you are here and concentrate on spiritual things.
2007-09-16 11:28:11 · answer #1 · answered by lisa w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first eleven verses in this chapter talk about "Everything under the sun is vanity and vexation of spirit," meaning that the things of the earth are empty, fleeting, unsubstantial.
Perhaps cross referencing similar scriptures would shed some light on the topic
1 Sam. 12: 21.
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
Matt. 16: 26.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
2 Ne. 9: 51.
Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
The particular verse you reference seems to indicate that the sun (and earth, in verse 4) fulfill the measure of their creation and are obedient to God. But man, often times, is not obedient and seeks after the vain things of the world - the things that will not help him return to his Heavenly Father.
2007-09-16 18:35:33 · answer #2 · answered by The Corinthian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When this verse was written, people had no concept of the earth being spherical. If they thought about it at all, it was FLAT.
So, this verse refers to the fact that the sun rises in the east, sets in the west and somehow returns to the east to rise again. This was a great mystery to them...as was much of the world around them.
They had no idea of the universe - at all.
2007-09-16 18:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sun repeats itself.
Never stopping or discontinuing it's pattern.
It's dependable.
The sun goes up and down and starts again for the same place it started before.
2007-09-16 18:16:09 · answer #4 · answered by ponycrazedperson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the NIV version it says "The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises."
pretty much means the world goes round and round
2007-09-16 18:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by sam 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Means that knowledge comes with time and plenty for a human being to rise but also knowledge comes down because we human beings arise and fall down but what we leave in the knowledge of others help them up to adquire knowledge and better whatever it was missing.
2007-09-16 18:12:09 · answer #6 · answered by jasmine l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun goes up, goes down, and goes back to where it started.
If you want to look at it for deeper meaning, you could say -
- Life goes on
2007-09-16 18:08:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
to break it down, it basically means something like...
this world keeps on spinning around...
there's a cyclical feel to it
2007-09-16 18:39:45 · answer #8 · answered by phildarthebuildar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋