Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament
Ecclesiastes
c. 940 BC
- Section
- Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament
- Events span
- c. 940 BC
- Written
- c. 940 BC critical view: c. 4th–3rd century BC
- Author
- Solomon ("the Preacher") critical view: An anonymous sage called Qoheleth, c. 3rd century BC
The Preacher — traditionally Solomon — searches for meaning “under the sun” in pleasure, wealth, work, and wisdom, and finds it all “vanity,” fleeting as a breath. His conclusion: meaning is found not in what we grasp but in fearing God and enjoying his gifts.
Key themes
- The vanity of life "under the sun"
- The limits of wisdom and wealth
- Time and death
- Enjoying God's gifts
- Fear God and keep his commandments
The Preacher's search
- "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity" — the Preacher declares that everything is fleeting
- He tests pleasure, wealth, and great works, and finds them empty and unsatisfying
- "To every thing there is a season" — a time for everything under heaven
- He observes injustice, endless toil, and the certainty of death for all alike
- Practical wisdom on wealth, folly, and the uncertainty of the future
- "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth"; the whole duty of man is to fear God
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”