Ecclesiastes 1
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
the Preacher--and Convener of assemblies for the purpose. See my Preface. Koheleth in Hebrew, a symbolical name for Solomon, and of Heavenly Wisdom speaking through and identified with him. Ecc 1:12 shows that "king of Jerusalem" is in apposition, not with "David," but "Preacher." of Jerusalem--rather, "in Jerusalem," for it was merely his metropolis, not his whole kingdom.
Open source ↗The words of the preacher,.... Or the preacher's sermon. The whole book is one continued discourse, and an excellent one it is; consisting not of mere words, but of solid matter; of things of the greatest importance, clothed with words apt and acceptable, which the preacher sought out, Ecc 12:10. The Targum is, "the words of the prophecy, which the preacher, who is Solomon, prophesied.'' According to which this book is prophetic; and so it interprets it, and owns it to be Solomon's. The word "Koheleth", rendered "preacher", is by some taken to be a proper name of Solomon; who, besides the name of Solomon, his parents gave him, and Jedidiah, as the Lord called him, had the name of Koheleth; nay, the Jews say (i), he had seven names, and to these three add four more, Agur, Jake, Ithiel, and Lemuel; the word by many is left untranslated (k); but it seems rather to be an appellative, and is by some rendered "gathered", or the "soul gathered" (l). Solomon had apostatized from the church and people of God, and had followed idols; but now was brought back by repentance, and was gathered into the fold, from whence he had strayed as a lost sheep; and therefore chooses to call himself by this name, when he preached his recantation sermon, as this book may be said to be. Others rather render it, "the gatherer" (m); and was so called, as the Jewish writers say (n), either because he gathered and got much wisdom, as it is certain he did; or because he gathered much people from all parts, to hear his wisdom, Kg1 4:34; in which he was a type of Christ, Gen 49:10; or this discourse of his was delivered in a large congregation, got together for that purpose; as he gathered and assembled together the heads and chief of the people, at the dedication of the temple, Kg1 8:1; so he might cal…
Open source ↗The title, Ecc 1:1, The words of Koheleth, son of David, king in Jerusalem, has been already explained in the Introduction. The verse, which does not admit of being properly halved, is rightly divided by "son of David" by the accent Zakef; for the apposition, "king in Jerusalem," does not belong to "David," but to "Koheleth." In several similar cases, such as Eze 1:3, the accentuation leaves the designation of the oppositional genitive undefined; in Gen 10:21 it proceeds on an erroneous supposition; it is rightly defined in Amo 1:1, for example, as in the passage before us. That "king" is without the article, is explained from this, that it is determined by "in Jerusalem," as elsewhere by "of Israel" ("Judah"). The expression (cf. Kg2 14:23) is singular.
Open source ↗Here is, I. An account of the penman of this book; it was Solomon, for no other son of David was king of Jerusalem; but he conceals his name Solomon, peaceable, because by his sin he had brought trouble upon himself and his kingdom, had broken his peace with God and lost the peace of his conscience, and therefore was no more worthy of that name. Call me not Solomon, call me Marah, for, behold, for peace I had great bitterness. But he calls himself, 1. The preacher, which intimates his present character. He is Koheleth, which comes from a word which signifies to gather; but it is of a feminine termination, by which perhaps Solomon intends to upbraid himself with his effeminacy, which contributed more than any thing to his apostasy; for it was to please his wives that he set up idols, Neh 13:26. Or the word soul must be understood, and so Koheleth is, (1.) A penitent soul, or one gathered, one that had rambled and gone astray like a lost sheep, but was now reduced, gathered in from his wanderings, gathered home to his duty, and come at length to himself. The spirit that was dissipated after a thousand vanities is now collected and made to centre in God. Divine grace can make great sinners great converts, and renew even those to repentance who, after they had known the way of righteousness, turned aside from it, and heal their backslidings, though it is a difficult case. It is only the penitent soul that God will accept, the heart that is broken, not the head that is bowed down like a bulrush only for a day, David's repentance, not Ahab's. And it is only the gathered soul that is the penitent soul, that comes back from its by-paths, that no longer scatters its way to the strangers (Jer 3:13), but is united to fear God's name. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth wil…
Open source ↗1:1 Ecclesiastes never uses the Teacher’s (Hebrew Qoheleth) name, but King David’s son probably refers to Solomon (see also 1:12, 16; 2:4-9).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause קֹהֶלֶת (qôheleth, H6953) — a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstractly, preaching (used as a 'nom de plume',… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗הֶבֶל (hebel, H1892) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) קֹהֶלֶת (qôheleth, H6953) — a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstractly, preaching (used as a 'nom de plume',…
Open source ↗יִתְרוֹן (yithrôwn, H3504) — preeminence, gain אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) עָמָל (ʻâmâl, H5999) — toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind עָמַל (ʻâmal, H5998) — to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched…
Open source ↗דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched… זָרַח (zârach, H2224) — properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically,… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שָׁאַף (shâʼaph, H7602) — to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);…
Open source ↗רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) דָּרוֹם (dârôwm, H1864) — the south; poet. the south wind סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4392) — full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness;… מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Open source ↗דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יָגֵעַ (yâgêaʻ, H3023) — tired; hence (transitive) tiresome אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שָׂבַע (sâbaʻ, H7646) — to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֹזֶן (ʼôzen, H241) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חָדָשׁ (châdâsh, H2319) — new שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched…
Open source ↗יֵשׁ (yêsh, H3426) — there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… חָדָשׁ (châdâsh, H2319) — new כְּבָר (kᵉbâr, H3528) — properly, extent of time, i.e. a great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗זִכְרוֹן (zikrôwn, H2146) — a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing) רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) אַחֲרוֹן (ʼachărôwn, H314) — hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
Open source ↗קֹהֶלֶת (qôheleth, H6953) — a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstractly, preaching (used as a 'nom de plume',… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by… תּוּר (tûwr, H8446) — to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially fortrade or reconnoitring חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עִנְיָן (ʻinyân, H6045) — ado, i.e. (generally) employment or (specifically) an affair אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various…
Open source ↗רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched… הֶבֶל (hebel, H1892) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as… רְעוּת (rᵉʻûwth, H7469) — a feeding upon, i.e. grasping after רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.”