Ecclesiastes 1:6

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הוֹלֵךְ֙ אֶל־דָּר֔וֹם וְסוֹבֵ֖ב אֶל־צָפ֑וֹן סוֹבֵ֤ב ׀ סֹבֵב֙ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ הָר֔וּחַ וְעַל־סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו שָׁ֥ב הָרֽוּחַ׃

Transliteration

Hôlêk ʾel-dārôm wəsôbêb ʾel-ṣāpôn, sôbêb sōbêb hôlêk hārûaḥ, wəʿal-səbîbōtāyw šāb hārûaḥ

Grammar Details

*Hôlêk*: verb, qal participle masculine singular - going
*ʾel*: preposition - to/toward
*dārôm*: noun, masculine singular - south
*wəsôbêb*: conjunction + verb, qal participle masculine singular - and turning around
*ṣāpôn*: noun, masculine singular - north
*sôbêb*: verb, qal participle masculine singular - turning around
*sōbêb*: verb, qal participle masculine singular - turning around (repetition for emphasis)
*hārûaḥ*: article + noun, feminine singular - the wind/spirit
*wəʿal*: conjunction + preposition - and upon/according to
*səbîbōtāyw*: noun, feminine plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - its circuits/around
*šāb*: verb, qal participle masculine singular - returning

Word Meanings

*rûaḥ*: wind/breath/spirit/mind
*sôbêb*: turn/go around/encircle/surround
*səbîbōt*: circuits/surroundings/rounds

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

John 3:8 : 8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest {G1492} not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Acts 27:13-15 : 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore. 14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo: 15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way [to it,] and were driven.
Job 37:9 : 9 Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north.
Job 37:17 : 17 How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]?
Ps 107:25 : 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Ps 107:29 : 29 He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.
Eccl 11:5 : 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
Jonah 1:4 : 4 But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Matt 7:24 : 24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
Matt 7:27 : 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 1:4-5
2 verses
83%
4One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.
Eccl 1:7-10
4 verses
82%
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.
8All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
Job 37:9
76%
9Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north.
Eccl 5:16
73%
16And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?
Ps 19:6
73%
6His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Eccl 12:7-8
2 verses
72%
7and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Job 37:17
72%
17How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]?
Ps 135:7
72%
7Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who maketh lightnings for the rain; Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries;
Job 37:12
71%
12And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,
Ps 103:16
71%
16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
Job 38:24
71%
24By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Ps 78:26
71%
26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.
Eccl 11:3-4
2 verses
70%
3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.
4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
Jer 51:16
70%
16when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
Job 27:21
70%
21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.
John 3:8
70%
8The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest {G1492} not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Luke 12:55
70%
55And when [ye see] a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.
Jer 10:13
69%
13when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
Isa 21:1
69%
1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
Jer 4:12
69%
12a full wind from these shall come for me: now will I also utter judgments against them.
Eccl 3:20-21
2 verses
69%
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
Job 37:21
68%
21And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.
Eccl 4:7
68%
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Prov 30:4
68%
4Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
Ezek 1:12
68%
12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went.
Eccl 1:14-15
2 verses
68%
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
Jas 3:4
67%
4Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither {G302} the impulse of the steersman None willeth.
Job 28:25
67%
25To make a weight for the wind: Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.
Eccl 3:1
67%
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
Ps 147:18
67%
18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Isa 27:8
67%
8In measure, when thou sendest them away, thou dost contend with them; he hath removed [them] with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
Job 6:26
67%
26Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?
Eccl 3:15
67%
15That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
Isa 55:10
67%
10For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
Prov 21:1
67%
1The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: {H4325} He turneth it whithersoever he will.
Eccl 12:2
67%
2before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
Eccl 7:13
67%
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Job 36:27
67%
27For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,
Ps 148:8
66%
8Fire and hail, snow and vapor; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;
Job 26:10
66%
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.
Zech 6:8
66%
8Then cried he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.