Ecclesiastes

The Book of Ecclesiastes is a treatise on the vanity of all things. The author is identified as Qoheleth, who was probably king Solomon.

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12

RESOURCES: SummaryOutline, Memorize, Misogynism


SUMMARY

Title

The word “Ecclesiastes” is a Latin word.

It is a transcription of the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Qoheleth.”

Qoheleth is often rendered “Preacher” or “Teacher.”

Author

The author identifies himself as the “son of David” and the ‘king in Jerusalem.”

That is probably a reference to Solomon, although his name never appears in the book. Solomon is Israel’s great gatherer of wisdom.

Date

Some words were borrowed from the Persian language.

That requires a date after Israel’s release from exile in Persia in 539 BC.

The unique language, syntax, and grammar of Ecclesiastes suggest that the book can be dated between the fifth and third centuries BC.

Purpose

The theme of Ecclesiastes is announced both at the beginning of the book and the end, and is often echoed throughout. The author declares that everything is meaningless.

This includes toil, wisdom, righteousness, wealth, prestige, pleasure, youth, vigor, life, and even the future after death.

Translation

Ecclesiastes is great in Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” translation.

 


OUTLINE

ALL HUMAN ENDEAVOR IS MEANINGLESS

Ecclesiastes 1:1. Greeting

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11. Everything is meaningless

HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT IS MEANINGLESS

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. Examples of meaninglessness

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3. Pleasure is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6. Construction projects are meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:7-11. Materialism is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:12-17. Reflecting on death

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23. Work is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26. Enjoy what you have

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There is a time for everything

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15. Toil is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22. Power corrupts us humans

Ecclesiastes 4:1-6. Human society is often ruled by the cruelest of people

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. A close spiritual friend is of great value

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16. Political power is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. Vows are meaningless

Ecclesiastes 5:8-20. The pursuit of wealth is meaningless

HUMAN WISDOM IS LIMITED

Ecclesiastes 6:1-12. Some people are not able to enjoy the fruits of their labor

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. Heed wise counsel

Ecclesiastes 7:15-25. Avoid the extremes

Ecclesiastes 7:26-28. Ancient attitudes toward women

Ecclesiastes 7:29. God made us humans upright

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9. Relate skillfully to your king

Ecclesiastes 8:10-13. The court process should be speedy

Ecclesiastes 8:14-17. We cannot know God fully

Ecclesiastes 9:1-18. We cannot predict our own future

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20. When a fool is appointed to leadership position

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. Work diligently, even though you do not know the future

WALK WITH GOD

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10. Live joyously and responsibly

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. Walk with God when you are young

Ecclesiastes 12:8-12. All human endeavor is meaningless

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Fear God and keep his commandments

 


MEMORIZE

Ecclesiastes 4:9. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

Ecclesiastes 4:10. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

Ecclesiastes 11:9. Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 12:13. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (NIV translation)

Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible

 


MISOGYNISM

The Book of Ecclesiastes sometimes reveals a deeply negative view of women. That probably reflects a misogynistic personality on the part of the man who wrote the book.

Ecclesiastes 7:26. I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

Ecclesiastes 7:28. which my soul still seeks; but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand; but I have not found a woman among all those.

 


ECCLESIASTES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12

RESOURCES: SummaryOutline, Memorize, Misogynism

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.