Ecclesiastes 1:6

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

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.

American King James Version (AKJV)

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.

American Standard Version (ASV)

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.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

The wind goes to the south, turning back again to the north; circling round for ever.

Webster's Revision

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.

English Revised Version (ERV)

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.

Clarke's Ecclesiastes 1:6 Bible Commentary

"The wind is continually whirling about, and the wind returneth upon its whirlings."

It is plain, from the clause which I have restored to the fifth verse, that the author refers to the approximations of the sun to the northern and southern tropics, viz., of Cancer and Capricorn.

All the versions agree in applying the first clause of the sixth verse to the sun, and not to the wind. Our version alone has mistaken the meaning. My old MS. Bible is quite correct:

The sunne riisith up, and goth doun, and to his place turnith agein; and there agein riising, goth about bi the south, and then agein to the north.

The author points out two things here:

1. Day and night, marked by the appearance of the sun above the horizon; proceeding apparently from east to west; where he sinks under the horizon, and appears to be lost during the night.

2. His annual course through the twelve signs of the zodiac, when, from the equinoctial, he proceeds southward to the tropic of Capricorn; and thence turneth about towards the north, till he reaches the tropic of Cancer; and so on.

Barnes's Ecclesiastes 1:6 Bible Commentary

More literally, Going toward the south and veering toward the north, veering, veering goes the wind; and to its veerings the wind returns.

Wesley's Ecclesiastes 1:6 Bible Commentary

1:6 The wind - The wind also sometimes blows from one quarter of the world, and sometimes from another; successively returning to the same quarters in which it had formerly been.

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