Ecclesiastes 1:6
New International Version
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.

New Living Translation
The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles.

English Standard Version
The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

Berean Standard Bible
The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.

New American Standard Bible
Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

NASB 1995
Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

NASB 1977
Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

Legacy Standard Bible
Going toward the south, Then circling toward the north, The wind goes circling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

Amplified Bible
The wind blows toward the south, Then circles toward the north; The wind circles and swirls endlessly, And on its circular course the wind returns.

Christian Standard Bible
Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles.

American Standard Version
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

Contemporary English Version
The wind blows south, the wind blows north; round and round it blows over and over again.

English Revised Version
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The wind blows toward the south and shifts toward the north. Round and round it blows. It blows in a full circle.

Good News Translation
The wind blows south, the wind blows north--round and round and back again.

International Standard Version
The wind blows southward, then northward, constantly circulating, and the wind comes back again in its courses.

Majority Standard Bible
The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

NET Bible
The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.

New Heart English Bible
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

Webster's Bible Translation
The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about to the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits.

World English Bible
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Going to the south, and turning around to the north, turning around, turning around, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind has returned.

Young's Literal Translation
Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.

Smith's Literal Translation
Going to the south and turning round about to the north, it turned round about; the wind turned round about, going, and the wind turned back upon its circuits.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.

Catholic Public Domain Version
it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.

New American Bible
Shifting south, then north, back and forth shifts the wind, constantly shifting its course.

New Revised Standard Version
The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The wind blows toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls continually, and returns again according to its circuits.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It goes to the South and is circled to the North and the wind goes to its circuits and the wind returns
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The wind goeth toward the south, And turneth about unto the north; It turneth about continually in its circuit, And the wind returneth again to its circuits.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Everything is Futile
5The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises. 6The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course. 7All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.…

Cross References
John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Psalm 135:7
He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Jeremiah 10:13
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

Job 37:9-10
The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. / By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.

Job 28:25
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,

Amos 4:13
For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

Matthew 24:31
And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Acts 2:2
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside.

1 Kings 18:45
Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

2 Kings 3:17
For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’

Isaiah 40:7
The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass.

Isaiah 40:24
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

Ezekiel 37:9
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

Zechariah 2:6
“Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.

Job 3:8
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

Acts 27:13-15
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete…

Jump to Previous
Blowing Circling Circuit Circuits Circular Continually Continues Courses Goes North Returneth Returning Returns Round South Swirling Towards Turneth Turning Turns Whirleth Wind
Jump to Next
Blowing Circling Circuit Circuits Circular Continually Continues Courses Goes North Returneth Returning Returns Round South Swirling Towards Turneth Turning Turns Whirleth Wind
Ecclesiastes 1
1. the preacher shows that all human courses are vain
4. because the creatures are restless in their courses
9. they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten
12. and because he has found it so in the studies of wisdom














Blowing southward
The Hebrew word for "blowing" is "נָשַׁב" (nashab), which conveys the idea of a continuous, persistent action. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the south wind was often associated with warmth and change. This phrase suggests the relentless and predictable nature of the wind, symbolizing the cycles of life that God has ordained. The southward movement can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of life, moving towards warmth and growth, reflecting the divine order in creation.

then turning northward
The Hebrew word "סָבַב" (sabab) means to turn or to go around. The north wind, in contrast to the south, was often cooler and could bring storms. This turning northward represents the inevitable changes and challenges in life. It highlights the sovereignty of God over the natural world and the human experience, reminding believers that life is full of seasons, each with its purpose under heaven.

round and round the wind swirls
The repetition of "round and round" emphasizes the cyclical nature of the wind's movement. The Hebrew root "סָבַב" (sabab) is used again, reinforcing the idea of a continuous cycle. This imagery of swirling wind can be seen as a reflection of the repetitive and sometimes seemingly futile nature of human endeavors. Yet, it also points to the divine orchestration behind these cycles, encouraging believers to trust in God's eternal plan.

ever returning on its course
The phrase "ever returning" suggests a perpetual, unending cycle. The Hebrew word "שָׁב" (shab) means to return or to go back. This highlights the constancy and reliability of God's creation. The wind's course is set by God, and it faithfully follows its path. This serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the assurance that, despite life's uncertainties, God's purposes remain steadfast and unchanging.

(6) The order of the Hebrew words permits the first clause, "going towards the south and returning towards the north," to be understood in continuation of the description of the movements of the sun, and so some interpreters have taken them, but probably erroneously. The verse gains in liveliness if more literally rendered, "going towards the south and circling towards the north, circling, circling goes the wind, and to its circles the wind returns."

Verse 6. - The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; literally, going towards the south, and circling towards the north. These words, as we have seen above, are referred to the sun by the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Syriac; but it is best to make this verse refer only to the wind - a fresh example of motion continually repeated with no real progress to an end. Thus each verse comprises one subject and idea, ver. 4 being concerned with the earth, ver. 5 with the sun, ver. 6 with the wind, and ver. 7 with the waters. There seems to be no particular force in the naming of north and south, unless it be in contrast to the sun's motion from east to west, mentioned in the preceding verse. The words following show that these two directions are not alone intended. Thus the four quarters are virtually included. It whirleth about continually. The original is more forcible, giving by its very form the idea of weary monotony. The subject is delayed till the last, thus: Going towards the south... circling, circling, goeth the wind; i.e. it blows from all quarters at its own caprice. And the wind returneth again according to his circuits. And on its circlings returneth the wind; it comes back to the point whence it started. The wind, seemingly the freest of all created things, is bound by the same law of immutable changeableness, insensate repetition.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Blowing
הוֹלֵךְ֙ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

southward,
דָּר֔וֹם (dā·rō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1864: The south, poet, the south wind

then turning
וְסוֹבֵ֖ב (wə·sō·w·ḇêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

northward,
צָפ֑וֹן (ṣā·p̄ō·wn)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter

round
סוֹבֵ֤ב ׀ (sō·w·ḇêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

[and] round
סֹבֵב֙ (sō·ḇêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

the wind
הָר֔וּחַ (hā·rū·aḥ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

swirls,
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

ever returning
שָׁ֥ב (šāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

on
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

[its]
הָרֽוּחַ׃ (hā·rū·aḥ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

course.
סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו (sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯāw)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around


Links
Ecclesiastes 1:6 NIV
Ecclesiastes 1:6 NLT
Ecclesiastes 1:6 ESV
Ecclesiastes 1:6 NASB
Ecclesiastes 1:6 KJV

Ecclesiastes 1:6 BibleApps.com
Ecclesiastes 1:6 Biblia Paralela
Ecclesiastes 1:6 Chinese Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:6 French Bible
Ecclesiastes 1:6 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind goes toward the south (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 1:5
Top of Page
Top of Page