Vanity of vanities. Figure of speech Polyptoton. Note also the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis (App-6), by which Ecclesiastes 1:2 begins and ends with the same word. These Figures are used for the greatest emphasis, and denote utter vanity.
all. the whole, or "the sum total". Not everything in the universe, but all the human labours of Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 1:8.
vanity. Heb habal, used of that which soon vanishes.