Introduction to Ecclesiastes 1:5
Ecclesiastes 1:5 is part of a poetic passage reflecting on the cyclical nature of the world. The verse describes the rising and setting of the sun, emphasizing its continuous movement. The grammatical structure of this verse includes antithetical parallelism, where opposing actions (sunrise and sunset) are juxtaposed, as well as the use of participles (שֹׁואֵ֛ף and זֹורֵ֥חַ) to depict ongoing motion. These linguistic features contribute to the philosophical tone of the book, highlighting the repetitive and unchanging aspects of existence.
וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וְאֶ֨ל־מְקֹומֹ֔ו שֹׁואֵ֛ף זֹורֵ֥חַֽ ה֖וּא שָֽׁם׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ (vezaraḥ hashemesh) – “And the sun rises” (Qal perfect)
2. וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (uva ha-shemesh) – “And the sun sets” (Qal perfect)
3. וְאֶ֨ל־מְקֹומֹ֔ו (ve’el mekomo) – “And to its place”
4. שֹׁואֵ֛ף (sho’ef) – “It hastens” (Qal participle)
5. זֹורֵ֥חַ (zoreaḥ) – “It rises again” (Qal participle)
6. ה֖וּא שָֽׁם (hu sham) – “There it is”
Explanation of Grammatical Function
1. The Antithetical Parallelism in וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ
The verse begins with two contrasting actions:
– וְזָרַ֥ח הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ (vezaraḥ hashemesh, “And the sun rises”) – Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular of זָרַח (zaraḥ, “to shine, rise”).
– וּבָ֣א הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (uva ha-shemesh, “And the sun sets”) – Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular of בּוֹא (bo, “to come, enter”).
These perfect verbs describe completed actions but, in the context of a cyclical process, they suggest repetitive occurrences rather than one-time events.
This antithetical parallelism reinforces the unchanging and monotonous nature of existence, a key theme in Ecclesiastes.
2. The Prepositional Phrase וְאֶ֨ל־מְקֹומֹ֔ו (Ve’el Mekomo)
The phrase וְאֶ֨ל־מְקֹומֹ֔ו (ve’el mekomo, “And to its place”) introduces the destination of the sun’s movement.
– אֶל־ (el-) – Preposition meaning “to.”
– מְקֹומֹ֔ו (mekomo, “its place”) – Noun with a 3rd person masculine singular suffix, indicating the sun’s predetermined course.
This phrase reinforces the idea of an endless cycle, where the sun always returns to its position.
3. The Participles שֹׁואֵ֛ף (Sho’ef) and זֹורֵ֥חַ (Zoreaḥ)
The verse continues with two Qal participles, which describe continuous, habitual actions:
– שֹׁואֵ֛ף (sho’ef, “it hastens, rushes”) – Qal active participle of שָׁאַף (sha’af, “to pant, gasp, hasten”).
– זֹורֵ֥חַ (zoreaḥ, “it rises again”) – Qal active participle of זָרַח (zaraḥ, “to shine, rise”).
Unlike perfect verbs, which describe completed actions, participles convey ongoing or repeated processes. This distinction emphasizes the ceaseless motion of the sun.
4. The Phrase ה֖וּא שָֽׁם (Hu Sham)
The phrase ה֖וּא שָֽׁם (hu sham, “There it is”) functions as a conclusion to the verse.
– הוּא (hu, “he/it”) – 3rd person masculine singular pronoun, referring to the sun.
– שָֽׁם (sham, “there”) – Demonstrates location.
This phrase reinforces the predictability of the sun’s movement, contributing to the broader existential theme of repetition and inevitability in Ecclesiastes.
The Philosophical and Linguistic Function of Cyclical Imagery
Ecclesiastes 1:5 employs antithetical parallelism and participles to depict the continuous movement of the sun, symbolizing the repetitive and unchanging nature of life. The perfect verbs (זָרַ֥ח, בָא) highlight individual occurrences, while the participles (שֹׁואֵ֛ף, זֹורֵ֥חַ) convey habitual motion. This verse contributes to Ecclesiastes’ overarching message: life operates in fixed cycles, and human effort does not change this fundamental reality.
