Hebrew Mysteries


 Week 15

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Marlene Bredenkamp • 12 June 2026

Recap Hebrew

  • There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
  • Hebrew is a alpha numerical language
  • Each letter has a pictograph
  • ELS reveals hidden mysteries
  • The effect of revers numbers (inverses)
  • Root words
  • Sofit letters
  • Nouns
  • Verbs
  • Directions
  • Triple numbers
  • Future tense
  • Letter kaf ךכ Sofit kaf
  • Double numbers
  • The letter yod
  • Number of appearances
  • The definite article
  • Equations
  • Hebrew calendar

Additional:

  • Antonyms

Scripture Reference

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2



Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.




Ecclesiastes 1:2 in Hebrew

Pictographs of word vanity, havel -  הָֽבֶל

ה— hey – man with his hands raised to heaven, figuratively, revelation.

ב— beyt –  picture a tent or house.

ל— lamed – a shepherd’s staff.




The shepherd’s staff reveals the direction of the house. 


Scripture References - Life is fleeting

The Hebrew word havel means fleeting, transitory, a vapour, a breath and, as defined in Chapter 1:17, striving after the wind:


Job 7:16. I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.


Psalm 39:11. When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, You consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is mere breath.



Psalm 62:9. Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.


All is vanity - what does "all" include?

This list is not exhaustive.

  • Earthly wisdom, חכמה chokmah — Ecclesiastes 1:17.
  • Pleasure, בשמחה beshimchah — Ecclesiastes 2:1-3.
  • Acquisition of material things — Ecclesiastes 2:4-11.
  • Belief that a person controls his life — Ecclesiastes 2:18-26.
  • Power, כח koach — Ecclesiastes 4:1-3.
  • Toil, עמל amal — Ecclesiastes 4:4.
  • Wealth and honour, תבואה tevoohah — Ecclesiastes 5:13. 
  • Circumstances of the both the righteous and wicked, — Ecclesiastes 8:14.


Antonym of Fleeting

The antonym of fleeting is everlasting. The Hebrew word is olam עולם


Pictographs of olam.

ע ayin - picture of an eye;

ו vav - picture of a cross;

ל lamed - picture of a Shepherd’s staff;

ם mem - picture of people.



(With) the eye on the cross people are lead (to eternal life).


Jesus in Ecclesiastess

What was fleeting became eternal through the Holy Spirit ה because the Good Shepherd ל came and tabernacled ב with man and laid down his life. הבל havel.


He breathed on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit ה , John 20:22;

He is the Word Who came to tabernacle with man, ב John 1:14;

Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for the sheep, ל John 10:11.

John 10:10, “The thief only comes to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they

May have life and have it abundantly.”


Definition of Eternal Life

 Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I perceive that all that God does endures forever”.


John 3:34, “For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure”.


John 6:63, “It is the Spirit Who gives life, the flesh is of no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life”.


John 17:3, “And this is eternal life — that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent”.


1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony, God has given us eternal life, and this life is through His Son”.


Conclusion

In Ecclesiastes 12:13, fleeting is contrasted with eternal life:


“The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed in judgment, with every secret thing, good or evil”,

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.


John 11:25. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Who ever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die”, John 11:25-26.


Numerical value of fleeting and wisdom 37-73

Standard value of the word fleeting, הבל havel = 37.

Standard value of the word wisdom, חכמה chokmah = 73.

Everlasting life depends on making a wise choice.

Matthew 7:24-27: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 


And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.


And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”


Prayer

May the Lord give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you. 

Next Focus

Deuteronomy 31:6


May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ give you a spirit of  wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.