Ecclesiastes | Old Testament - Britannica

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External Websites

• MLibrary Digital Collections - Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes
• The University of Chicago Press Journals - The book of Ecclesiastes
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes
• JewishEncyclopedia.com - Book of Ecclesiastes
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Ecclesiastes
• EWTN - Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes Old Testament Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Qohelet, The Preacher Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 26, 2025 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

Ecclesiastes, (Preacher), an Old Testament book of wisdom literature that belongs to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the Ketuvim (Writings). In the Hebrew Bible, Ecclesiastes stands between the Song of Solomon and Lamentations and with them belongs to the Megillot, five scrolls that are read at various festivals of the Jewish religious year. The common Christian English translations follow the Septuagint in placing Ecclesiastes between Proverbs and the Song of Solomon, an order reflecting the old tradition that Solomon wrote all three.

The actual author of Ecclesiastes is unknown, but the superscription (1:1) attributes the book to qohelet (commonly translated “preacher,” Greek ekklēsiastēs), who is identified as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Though these words can only refer to Solomon (fl. mid-10th century bce), the frequency of Aramaic forms and the book’s rationalistic contents date it sometime about the second half of the 3rd century bce.

Hebrew: Qohelet (Show more) See all related content

The book reflects the ideas of one who questioned the doctrine of retributive justice associated with wisdom theology. His observations on life convinced him that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all” (9:11). Human fate, the author maintains, does not depend on righteous or wicked conduct but is an inscrutable mystery that remains hidden in God (9:1). All attempts to penetrate this mystery and thereby gain the wisdom necessary to secure one’s fate are “vanity,” or futile. In the face of such uncertainty, the author’s counsel is to enjoy the good things that God provides while one has them to enjoy.

More From Britannica biblical literature: Ecclesiastes The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.