Qohelet

Qohelet is the Hebrew title of the biblical book known in English as Ecclesiastes. The name derives from the Hebrew root qahal, meaning to assemble or gather, and Qohelet is usually rendered as “the Preacher” or “the Teacher.” The book is part of the Ketuvim (Writings) in the Hebrew Bible and is classified as wisdom literature.

The speaker in the book identifies himself as Qohelet, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Most modern scholars view Qohelet as a literary persona rather than a historical Solomon, and the phrase “son of David” may be conventional. The composition date is uncertain but is generally placed in the late Second Temple period, often dated to the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE.

Ecclesiastes blends reflective essays, proverbs, and philosophical questions. Its central refrain—“vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (hevel)—and the phrase “under the sun” frame discussions of wisdom, pleasure, wealth, labor, and fate. Core themes include the limits of human knowledge, the apparent futility of earthly pursuits, and the search for meaning, with a recognition that death comes to all and that much remains mysterious. The book emphasizes enjoying life’s gifts while acknowledging life’s uncertainties, and it closes with a call to fear God and keep His commandments.

Impact and interpretation: Qohelet has shaped Jewish and Christian reflections on meaning, mortality, and ethics. Its skeptical voice contrasts with other wisdom traditions and has generated extensive literary, philosophical, and theological analysis. The book is read for its meditative depth and its challenge to conventional formulas of success.