Hevel הֶ֫בֶל

Hevel (Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל, Strong's H1892) is a Hebrew masculine noun meaning “vanity”. It occurs 73 times in 64 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Verses

Every verse with Hevel, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 32:21
  They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.

1 Kings

• 1 Kings 16:13
  For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.
• 1 Kings 16:26
  For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.

2 Kings

• 2 Kings 17:15
  And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and themselves became worthless, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

Job

• Job 7:16
  I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
• Job 9:29
  If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
• Job 21:34
  How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”
• Job 27:12
  Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?
• Job 35:16
  Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”

Psalms

• Psalm 31:6
  I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust.
• Psalm 39:5
  Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah
• Psalm 39:6
  Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
• Psalm 39:11
  When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah
• Psalm 62:9
  Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.
• Psalm 78:33
  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.So He ended their days in futility, and their years in sudden terror.
• Psalm 94:11
  The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
• Psalm 144:4
  Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Proverbs

• Proverbs 13:11
  Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
• Proverbs 21:6
  The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
• Proverbs 31:30
  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Ecclesiastes

• Ecclesiastes 1:2
  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”
• Ecclesiastes 1:14
  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 2:1
  I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
• Ecclesiastes 2:11
  Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 2:15
  Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 2:17
  Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 2:19
  And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 2:21
  For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.
• Ecclesiastes 2:23
  For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 2:26
  For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 3:19
  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 4:4
  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 4:7
  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.Again, I saw futility under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 4:8
  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
• Ecclesiastes 4:16
  There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 5:7
  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
• Ecclesiastes 5:10
  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 6:2
  A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.
• Ecclesiastes 6:4
  For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
• Ecclesiastes 6:9
  Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 6:11
  Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
• Ecclesiastes 6:12
  For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 7:6
  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 7:15
  All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
• Ecclesiastes 8:10
  And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 8:14
  There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 9:9
  Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 11:8
  But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
• Ecclesiastes 11:10
  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.
• Ecclesiastes 12:8
  Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”

Isaiah

• Isaiah 30:7
  For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.
• Isaiah 49:4
  Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”
• Isaiah 57:13
  When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 2:5
  Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
• Jeremiah 8:19
  Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?Listen to the cry of the daughter of my people from a land far away: “Is the LORD no longer in Zion? Is her King no longer there?” “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images, with their worthless foreign idols?”
• Jeremiah 10:3
  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
• Jeremiah 10:8
  But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
• Jeremiah 10:15
  They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
• Jeremiah 14:22
  Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.
• Jeremiah 16:19
  O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.
• Jeremiah 51:18
  They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

Lamentations

• Lamentations 4:17
  As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.

Jonah

• Jonah 2:8
  They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.

Zechariah

• Zechariah 10:2
  For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).