All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never overflows. The water returns to the place where the rivers began, and the cycle starts over again.
The writer is pointing out that nature runs in endless cycles - water flows to the sea, evaporates, and returns as rain to start the process all over again, showing how life itself often feels repetitive.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon (traditionally considered the author) is observing the natural water cycle as part of his broader reflection on life's repetitive nature. In ancient times, people understood this cycle through observation but didn't have scientific explanations for evaporation and precipitation. This verse comes early in Ecclesiastes as Solomon begins to establish his theme that earthly life often feels meaningless and cyclical.
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