There are (27) twenty-seven instances of the phrase “under the sun” in Ecclesiastes. A majority or which are direct statements to the reader. The remainder are rhetorical and/or unanswerable questions. The phrase “under the sun” is used repeatedly by the Preacher/Qohelet (a.k.a.: Solomon). It is often used in the context of a question, “what advantage…under the sun?”, or as a direct statement to the reader “there is nothing new under the sun”. So what is being asked? “What advantage does a man have in all his work which he does when he is living or in this world, the earthly realm?” The statement: “there is nothing new in our lives in this world“ It is the main crux of the entire book or Ecclesiastes and the resounding question that is constantly posed to the reader. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose? Do we have a purpose? As a believer we are to conclude to the affirmative. Everything that is done in this life is to be done to bring glory to God. Besides, through Christ our works after conversion are to be manifestations of our redeemed righteousness and to bring glory to God. We are literally to be recreated in God's image again. Just as we were originally created to do by God in the Garden with Adam...”. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15. Why? We were given dominion over the earthly creation with the stipulation that we work it. Why work? It was because it emulated the actions of Almighty God and brought glory to Him. Genesis 1 is replete with God working/creating in it. So much so that he “rests” in Chapter 2. All of these things were done by God, especially the rest, because they were to serve as an active example to man. We were to obey and be like Him.
• Ecclesiastes 1:3 What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 1:9 And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
• Ecclesiastes 2:11 …behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me…
• Ecclesiastes 2:18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun
• Ecclesiastes 2:19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun this too is vanity.
• Ecclesiastes 2:20 I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 2:22 …what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 3:16 … I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
• Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun…
• Ecclesiastes 4:3 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 4:7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 4:15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.
• Ecclesiastes 5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.
• Ecclesiastes 5:18 … to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him…
• Ecclesiastes 6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men
• Ecclesiastes 6:12 …For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 8:9 …I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun…
• Ecclesiastes 8:15 … will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 8:17…and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun
• Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men
• Ecclesiastes 9:6 … and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun
• Ecclesiastes 9:11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors,
• Ecclesiastes 9:13 Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.
• Ecclesiastes 10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
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