This is a short & sweet post to help you get started into Ecclesiastes.  Here are 3 definitions that will aid you in understanding this peculiar book of the Bible. 

Ecc Main Rotator1.  Ecclesiastes

     You may be wondering right off the bat what the word that titles the book even means, no worries we got this.  In short, Ecclesiastes is the greek translation from the Hebrew word "Qoheleth" which more or less means "Preacher."

     So, "Preacher" (ecclesiastes/qoheleth) is a word used in Ecclesiastes (used 7 times) as a nickname for the author who is writing the book (example Ecclesiastes 1:12).  The dominant argument is that King Solomon authored Ecclessiastes and has nicknamed himself the Preacher. 

     Qohelet (some scholars put an" h" at the end of that word while others don't) is derived from the Hebrew word "qahal" which means "to call" or "to assemble."  It's no surprise then that we see the greek word "ekklesia" used in the New Testament which translates to the english word "church" or "congregation."  You may even hear some fancy pants minister discussing "Ecclesiology" which is the scholarly term for the study of the church.  

2.  Vanity

     This term appears in Ecclesiastes 38 times.  Needless to say, the interpretation of this word greatly impacts the understanding of this book of the Bible.  Defining this word in Hebrew is at the center of any and all controversy surrounding Ecclesiastes.  

     Vanity is the ESV's translation for the Hebrew word "hebel."  As I've already mentioned this word has been translated numerous ways (Examples: "meaningless", "useless", "absurd", "futility", "bubble", "trace", "transience", "breath").  The most literal meaning of the Hebrew word "hebel" is breath or vapor.  

     "Enigmatic" is Craig Bartholomew's word of choice for the Hebrew term "hebel."  Bartholomew argues the reason this word is the superior translation is because in Hebrew "hebel does not indicate that there is no meaning but that it [meaning] appears to be ungraspable or incomprehensible."  Bartholomew's reasoning intrigues me and "enigmatic" (meaning difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious) seems to jive with Solomon's overall message.  

3.  Under the sun

     This phrase "under the sun" is repeated nearly 30 times in Ecclesiastes.  Simply put everything "under the sun" refers to everything of the world... everything.  G.S. Hendry argues that this expression is used just as the New Testament authors describe things as "worldly" and that Ecclesiastes "is in fact a critique of secularism and of secularized religion." 

     

I pray these 3 quick definitions bless and aid your reading of Ecclesiastes!

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Cody

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