Topical Bible: Meaningless

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The term "meaningless" is prominently featured in the book of Ecclesiastes, where it is used to convey the futility and transient nature of human endeavors and earthly pursuits. The Hebrew word often translated as "meaningless" is "hevel," which can also mean "vapor" or "breath," suggesting something fleeting and insubstantial.

Ecclesiastes and the Quest for Meaning

Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who is described as a wise and wealthy ruler. The book opens with the declaration, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 1:2). This sets the tone for the exploration of life's purpose and the apparent futility of human efforts.

Throughout Ecclesiastes, the Teacher examines various aspects of life, including wisdom, pleasure, work, and wealth, ultimately finding them to be "meaningless" when pursued as ends in themselves. For example, Ecclesiastes 2:11 states, "Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a chasing after the wind; there was no profit under the sun" .

The Human Condition and Mortality

The theme of meaninglessness is closely tied to the human condition and the inevitability of death. Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 reflects on the common fate of humans and animals: "For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animals, for everything is meaningless. All go to one place; all come from dust, and to dust all return" .

This perspective underscores the transient nature of life and the limitations of human understanding. The Teacher's reflections lead to a recognition of the limitations of human wisdom and the need for a divine perspective.

The Fear of God as the Foundation of Meaning

Despite the repeated declarations of meaninglessness, Ecclesiastes does not conclude with despair. Instead, it points to the fear of God as the foundation for a meaningful life. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 summarizes this conclusion: "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil" .

This call to fear God and obey His commandments suggests that true meaning is found not in earthly pursuits but in a relationship with the Creator. The acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the anticipation of divine judgment provide a framework for understanding life's purpose beyond the apparent futility of worldly endeavors.

New Testament Perspectives

The New Testament echoes the themes of Ecclesiastes by emphasizing the temporary nature of earthly life and the eternal significance of spiritual pursuits. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20).

The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of meaninglessness in the context of resurrection and eternal life. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, he encourages believers, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" . This assurance of eternal significance contrasts with the fleeting nature of earthly pursuits.

Conclusion

The biblical exploration of meaninglessness serves as a profound reflection on the human condition, the limitations of worldly wisdom, and the ultimate purpose found in a life oriented toward God. Through the lens of Scripture, believers are called to seek meaning not in temporal achievements but in the eternal relationship with the Creator.

Greek

945. battalogeo -- to stammer
... Word Origin from battos (stammerer) and logos Definition to stammer NASB Word
Usage use meaningless repetition (1). use vain repetitions. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/945.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

8414. tohu -- formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
... Word Usage chaos (1), confusion (1), desolation (1), emptiness (1), empty space
(1), formless (2), futile (2), futile things (1), meaningless (2), meaningless ...
/hebrew/8414.htm - 6k

Library

viii
... That the study will reward the student, although not in a material sense"for the
meaningless prejudice of the great mass of our people for what is local, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/viii.htm

On Receipt of this Letter, Diodorus Made Himself Master of Its ...
... [1999] We read, with the Codex Bobiensis, "dicat homini, Loca mihi," etc. The Codex
Casinensis has the meaningless reading, "homini diviti," etc. ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/45 on receipt of this.htm

The Resurrection of the Sleeping Saints.
... from death at the hands of their persecutors, did so "that they might obtain a better
resurrection" (Heb.11:35) which expression is quite meaningless if there ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the resurrection of the.htm

Prefatory Note
... That the study will reward the student, although not in a material sense"for the
meaningless prejudice of the great mass of our people for what is local and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the greek church/prefatory note.htm

The Gospel of Luke
... the Temptation? If He could not sin, was it not a meaningless performance
to allow Satan to tempt Christ at all? Such questions ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/the gospel of luke.htm

General Introduction
... fool who said in his heart "there is no God," in which he merely repeats that the
phrase he used has a definite meaning, and is not a meaningless sound, also ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/nature and grace/general introduction.htm

God's Sovereignty and Prayer
... pre-eminently a Man of Prayer. Thus, it is evident, that prayer is neither
meaningless nor valueless. But still this does not remove ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter nine gods sovereignty and.htm

The Flag of the World
... An optimist could not mean a man who thought everything right and nothing wrong.
For that is meaningless; it is like calling everything right and nothing left. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/v the flag of the.htm

I Suspect I have Been Allotting Habitually Too Little Time to ...
... Prayer is not a meaningless function or duty to be crowded into the busy or the
weary ends of the day, and we are not obeying our Lord's command when we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter vii i suspect i.htm

So, when You Allege that the Ornaments of the Heathen Deities are ...
... But the whole affair is meaningless, and is, in fact, a dead work so far as concerns
the idols; though, without doubt, a living one as respects the demons [409 ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter x so when you.htm

Thesaurus

Meaningless (32 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Meaningless (32 Occurrences). ... Isaiah 40:23 who brings princes
to nothing; who makes the judges of the earth like meaningless. ...
/m/meaningless.htm - 15k

Parable (52 Occurrences)
... Again in His interpretation of the Tares among the Wheat in Matthew 13:36;, a number
of details of the original parable are discarded as meaningless. ...
/p/parable.htm - 38k

Meaning (41 Occurrences)

/m/meaning.htm - 18k

Joshebbasshebeth
... British and American) takes the place of the translation "that sat in the seat"
in the King James Version (2 Samuel 23:8). The phrase so rendered is meaningless...
/j/joshebbasshebeth.htm - 7k

Josheb-basshebeth (1 Occurrence)
... British and American) takes the place of the translation "that sat in the seat"
in the King James Version (2 Samuel 23:8). The phrase so rendered is meaningless...
/j/josheb-basshebeth.htm - 7k

Lips (199 Occurrences)
... Their worship should consist not of meaningless dumb ritual, but of "words"-hymns
and prayers, expressive of real gratitude and of actual needs-or perhaps ...
/l/lips.htm - 37k

Insignificant (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Without importance; meaningless; as,
insignificant words. 2. (a.) Having no weight or effect; answering ...
/i/insignificant.htm - 9k

Repetitions (1 Occurrence)
... however battalogeo means the constant repetition of the same phrase or the mechanical
recitation of a long series of obscure or meaningless formulas (if, indeed ...
/r/repetitions.htm - 7k

Dumb (34 Occurrences)
... tied, which is a condition causing lisping, not stammering; he was probably one
of those deaf persons who produce babbling, incoherent and meaningless sounds. ...
/d/dumb.htm - 20k

Meanly (1 Occurrence)

/m/meanly.htm - 6k

Resources

What does it mean that everything is meaningless? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of life? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Ecclesiastes - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Meaningless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Meaningless (32 Occurrences)

Matthew 6:7
In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
(See NAS)

1 Timothy 1:6
from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned aside to vain talking;
(See NIV)

Job 27:12
Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 1:2
All is to no purpose, said the Preacher, all the ways of man are to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:1
I said in my heart, I will give you joy for a test; so take your pleasure--but it was to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:15
Then said I in my heart: As it comes to the foolish man, so will it come to me; so why have I been wise overmuch? Then I said in my heart: This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:17
So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:19
And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:21
Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand; but one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This again is to no purpose and a great evil.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:23
All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:26
To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 3:19
Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:4
And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:8
It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:16
There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 5:7
Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who has a love for silver never has enough silver, or he who has love for wealth, enough profit. This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 6:2
A man to whom God gives money, wealth, and honour so that he has all his desires but God does not give him the power to have joy of it, and a strange man takes it. This is to no purpose and an evil disease.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 6:9
What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 6:12
Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:6
Like the cracking of thorns under a pot, so is the laugh of a foolish man; and this again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 8:10
And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Have joy with the woman of your love all the days of your foolish life which he gives you under the sun. Because that is your part in life and in your work which you do under the sun.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 11:8
But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 11:10
So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 12:8
All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 1:13
Give me no more false offerings; the smoke of burning flesh is disgusting to me, so are your new moons and Sabbaths and your holy meetings.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 29:21
Who give help to a man in a wrong cause, and who put a net for the feet of him who gives decisions in the public place, taking away a man's right without cause.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 40:17
All the nations are as nothing before him; even less than nothing, a thing of no value.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 40:23
who brings princes to nothing; who makes the judges of the earth like meaningless.
(WEB NAS)

Subtopics

Meaningless

Related Terms

Meaningless (32 Occurrences)

stingy (1 Occurrence)

Utterances (9 Occurrences)

Lowly (29 Occurrences)

Low (216 Occurrences)

Fawn (2 Occurrences)

Traffic (12 Occurrences)