Ecclesiastes 1:1
The Preacher Man
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.1
To misunderstand the first three verses of Ecclesiastes is to misunderstand the rest of the book. Verse 1 begins by establishing the author, as well as the book’s name. The RSV2 translates the word Qoheleth (קֹהֶלֶת)3 as “Preacher.” Another common translation is “Teacher.”4 Other possible translations offered by commentators include “Searcher,” “Assembler,” and “Convener.”5 Despite a difference in word choice, there is a general consensus on meaning: the author is gathering people together to deliver a sermon to them. The name “Ecclesiastes” is formed from the Greek Septuagint’s6 translation of this title, which uses a word derived from ekklesia, meaning “assembly.”
Although this book does not introduce him by name, the author was traditionally understood to be King Solomon. Within the last few centuries, this view has become less popular. Many modern scholars identify the presence of “Aramaisms" in the text that would suggest this was not written by Solomon himself. However, this verse does identify the author as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” The word “son” does not necessarily imply the immediate male descendant, but could refer to a grandson, great-grandson, or any man descended from David. Verse 1:12 then identifies that the author was “king over Israel in Jerusalem.” The only king that fits this description is King Solomon, and as we shall see later, the author describes himself in ways that fit what we know about Solomon from elsewhere in scripture. The text implies that the Preacher is King Solomon.7
But this does not settle it. One other proposal is that the author may be a later writer borrowing Solomon’s voice. This is a literary device, not deception or forgery. An author influenced by Solomon could be trying to honor him by writing this as an homage. I take the advice of Peter Kreeft.8 Regardless of the author’s true identity, he wrote it to be from the perspective of King Solomon, so that is how I will identify the author throughout this commentary.
This first verse has set up both title and author. This book is presented as “The Words of The Preacher,” and we should assume this preacher to be King Solomon. The next verse will establish the book’s theme.
This is a first draft of my commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:1. To be notified as I fill in the rest of this commentary, subscribe to this substack.
All scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV) unless otherwise specified.
The King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and English Standard Version (ESV) also translate it this way, among others. A commentary advocating this translation is Philip G. Ryken, Why Everything Matters (Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2015), 18.
Sometimes spelled as Kohelet.
The New International Version (NIV) translates it this way, among others.
Stedman primarily advocates “Searcher” in place of “Preacher,” but also accepts “Assembler.” Ray C. Stedman, Is This All There is to Life? (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1999), 11. Kaiser favors “Convener” and “Assembler” in reference to assembling a group of people. Walter Kaiser, Coping With Change (Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013), 35-6. Rabbi Shapiro uses “ Rabbi Shapiro, by contrast, uses “Assembler” as an assembler of wisdom. Rabbi Rami Shapiro, The Tao of Solomon (Teaneck, NJ: Ben Yehuda Press, 2018), 1.
The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Bible commissioned in the 3rd century BC. It was used by many in the early Christian Church, including the Apostles.
A case for Solomonic authorship can be found in Kaiser, Coping With Change, 36-41.
Peter Kreeft, Three Philosophies of Life (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1989), 25.