Ecclesiastes opens with this introduction:
“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1).
The Hebrew word for Preacher is Qoheleth, meaning one who assembles or speaks before an assembly. The strongest internal and historical evidence points to Solomon as the author. The references to wisdom, wealth, building projects, pleasure, and royal power (Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:11) align unmistakably with Solomon’s life. He identifies himself as “king over Israel in Jerusalem” (1:12), which fits only Solomon before the kingdom divided. The themes of wisdom and folly, labor and reward, align with his other writings, especially Proverbs.
This would date the book to the late reign of Solomon, likely around 935 BC, when Solomon was aging and reflecting deeply upon the consequences of his life’s pursuits—some of which were carnal and idolatrous.
Purpose of Ecclesiastes
The central purpose of Ecclesiastes is to confront man’s pursuit of meaning apart from God. Solomon explores everything life “under the sun” has to offer—wisdom, pleasure, labor, wealth, reputation—and finds it all to be “vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
It is not a cynical book, but a painfully honest examination of the human condition when disconnected from eternal truth. It shows us the futility of all pursuits apart from God and prepares the heart for the final, ultimate conclusion:
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Structure and Exegetical Overview
The book is both philosophical and poetic, containing personal memoir, proverbial wisdom, and rhetorical questions. It follows a loose chiastic structure with thematic development:
The Vanity of Life (Ecclesiastes 1:1–11)
Solomon opens with the thesis:
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
The Hebrew word hebel (translated vanity) means vapor, breath, or meaningless. It doesn’t suggest that life has no meaning, but that it is transitory, elusive, and unsatisfying without divine purpose. He establishes the repetitive, cyclical nature of life—sunrise, wind, rivers, generations—all things full of labor, yet nothing truly fulfilled (Ecclesiastes 1:3–11).
The Futility of Human Pursuits (Ecclesiastes 1:12–2:26)
Solomon tests every human pursuit:
Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:16–18): Even increased knowledge brings grief.
Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11): Laughter, wine, projects, music, and women all fail to satisfy.
Labor (Ecclesiastes 2:17–23): Even great success is left to others after death—often to a fool.
Yet God gives to a man who is good in His sight “wisdom and knowledge and joy” (Ecclesiastes 2:26), pointing toward divine grace as the only source of true blessing.
Times and Seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1–22)
A turning point occurs here with the famous poem, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (3:1). This passage expresses God’s absolute control over all of life’s events.
Solomon affirms that “He has made everything beautiful in its time” and “has put eternity in their hearts” (3:11), suggesting man is created to seek eternal meaning. Yet we cannot fully grasp God’s works.
God’s judgment is certain (3:17), and man is accountable for how he lives, even if the timing of justice is unclear.
Social Injustices and the Problem of Evil (Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12)
Solomon examines oppression, envy, loneliness, and the emptiness of wealth:
“The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter” (Ecclesiastes 4:1)
“Two are better than one… a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)
“He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
He sees that riches without joy, without God, are vain. Even a man with a hundred children and long life but no satisfaction is worse off than a stillborn child (Ecclesiastes 6:3).
Wisdom for Living (Ecclesiastes 7:1–11:6)
This section is proverbial in style and offers wisdom for navigating life’s uncertainties:
“The day of death is better than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
“Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise… Do not be overly wicked” (Ecclesiastes 7:16–17)
“Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers” (Ecclesiastes 7:19)
Solomon teaches moderation, humility, patience, and fear of God. He also warns that the future is uncertain:
“He who observes the wind will not sow” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
Yet we are to work diligently and trust God with the results.
Remember Your Creator (Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8)
The final poetic section is a plea to remember God while young, before the days of trouble and old age come (Ecclesiastes 12:1). He uses metaphor to describe the aging body:
“The keepers of the house tremble” – the hands
“The strong men bow down” – the legs
“The grinders cease” – the teeth
“Those that look through the windows grow dim” – the eyes
It ends with the fading of life:
“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The Whole Duty of Man (Ecclesiastes 12:9–14)
Solomon now speaks as the wise teacher who has weighed and tested everything. He concludes:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)
This is the theological climax of Ecclesiastes. All is vanity without God, but with Him, there is accountability, purpose, and eternal reward.
My Final Thoughts
Ecclesiastes is not nihilism. It’s clarity. It’s the voice of a man who had everything and found it empty apart from the fear of God. It exposes the vanity of a life lived for self and exalts the simplicity and glory of obedience. It teaches that wisdom is better than folly, but both die. Wealth may bring comfort, but never peace. Work may build, but it cannot last. Only that which is grounded in eternal reverence for God remains.
In the end, your greatest wisdom is not found in the abundance of possessions or even earthly success—but in fearing God and keeping His commandments. This is not just man’s part. It is man’s all.
