“Hebel hebel’iym, hebel hebel’iym; ha’kol hebel”. Five of the first “words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” are the same word, and through a brilliant mastery of the Hebrew language Solomon wants to let his readers know the canvas he will be painting on will be one of vapors and mists. No matter what other shades or colors Solomon chooses to paint with, it cannot be disconnected from these first five words and the conclusion that “everything is vanity”.
