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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Koheleth</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/k/koheleth.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/ecclesiastes/1-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/k/koheleth.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Koheleth</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/k/kohath's.htm" title="Kohath's">◄</a> Koheleth <a href="/topical/k/kol.htm" title="Kol">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Koheleth is the Hebrew name for the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, one of the wisdom books in the Old Testament. The term "Koheleth" is often translated as "Teacher" or "Preacher" and is derived from the Hebrew root "qahal," meaning "to assemble" or "to gather." This suggests that Koheleth is one who addresses an assembly, imparting wisdom and reflections on life.<br><br><b>Authorship and Identity</b><br><br>Traditionally, Koheleth has been identified with King Solomon, the son of David, who is renowned for his wisdom. <a href="/ecclesiastes/1.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:1</a> introduces the book with, "The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem." This association with Solomon is further supported by the book's references to wealth, extensive building projects, and profound wisdom, all characteristics attributed to Solomon in other biblical texts (<a href="/1_kings/3-12.htm">1 Kings 3:12-13</a>, <a href="/1_kings/10-23.htm">1 Kings 10:23</a>).<br><br>However, some scholars debate this Solomonic authorship, suggesting that the language and style of Ecclesiastes reflect a later period. Despite these debates, the traditional view holds that Solomon, or a figure closely associated with his wisdom and experiences, is the author.<br><br><b>Themes and Content</b><br><br>Ecclesiastes is known for its exploration of the meaning and purpose of life. Koheleth begins with the famous declaration, "Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity" (<a href="/ecclesiastes/1-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:2</a>). This sets the tone for the book's examination of the fleeting and often perplexing nature of human existence.<br><br>Koheleth reflects on various pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, work, and wealth—and concludes that these, in themselves, do not provide lasting fulfillment. He observes, "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief" (<a href="/ecclesiastes/1-18.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:18</a>). Despite the apparent futility of these endeavors, Koheleth encourages a balanced approach to life, advocating for the enjoyment of simple pleasures and the fear of God.<br><br><b>The Fear of God</b><br><br>A central theme in Ecclesiastes is the fear of God, which Koheleth presents as the foundation for a meaningful life. He writes, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind" (<a href="/ecclesiastes/12-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:13</a>). This reverence for God provides a counterbalance to the book's exploration of life's vanities, suggesting that true purpose is found in a relationship with the Creator.<br><br><b>Literary Style</b><br><br>Ecclesiastes is characterized by its poetic and philosophical style, employing a series of reflections, proverbs, and observations. The book's tone is contemplative and, at times, somber, as Koheleth grapples with the complexities of life. The use of rhetorical questions and paradoxes invites readers to ponder deeply the nature of existence and the divine order.<br><br><b>Canonical Status and Influence</b><br><br>Ecclesiastes holds a unique place in the biblical canon, offering a perspective that complements the more optimistic wisdom found in Proverbs. Its inclusion in the Scriptures underscores the breadth of human experience and the diverse ways in which God's truth is revealed.<br><br>Throughout history, Ecclesiastes has influenced both religious and secular thought, prompting reflection on the human condition and the search for meaning. Its themes resonate with readers across generations, offering timeless insights into the pursuit of wisdom and the importance of living in reverence to God.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">KOHELETH</span><p>ko-hel'-eth (qoheleth).<br><br>See <a href="../e/ecclesiastes.htm">ECCLESIASTES</a>.<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/6953.htm"><span class="l">6953. Qoheleth -- "a collector (of sentences)," "a preacher," a <b>...</b></span></a><br><b>...</b> preacher. Feminine of active participle from qahal; a (female) assembler (ie Lecturer):<br> abstractly, preaching (used as a "nom de plume", <b>Koheleth</b>) -- preacher. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/6953.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/gladden/who_wrote_the_bible/chapter_vii_the_poetical_books.htm"><span class="l">The Poetical Books.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, bears in the Hebrew collection the name, "<b>Koheleth</b>,"<br> which means the assembler of the people, and therefore, probably, the man <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vii the poetical books.htm</font><p><a href="/library/deane/pseudepigrapha/introduction.htm"><span class="l">Introduction.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> A similar impersonation is familiar to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes, where <b>Koheleth</b><br> utters his varied experiences through the mouth of Solomon, "son of David <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/introduction.htm</font><p><a href="/library/dionysius/the_works_of_dionysius/chapter_iii.htm"><span class="l">Chapter iii.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Of course the religious salutation of the Hebrews (2 Samuel 6:14) is the thought<br> of <b>Koheleth</b>, and figuratively it is here adopted for holy mirth.]. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/the works of dionysius/chapter iii.htm</font><p><a href="/library/origen/origen_against_celsus/chapter_xii_whether_then_there.htm"><span class="l">Whether, Then, There are Cycles of Time, and Floods...</span></a> <br><b>...</b> 3726]. Footnotes: [3719] [Note this testimony to the authorship of <b>Koheleth</b>,<br> and that it is Scripture.]. [3720] Cf. Ecclesiastes 1:9. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xii whether then there.htm</font><p><a href="/library/thaumaturgus/a_metaphrase_of_the_book_of_ecclesiastes/chapter_xii_moreover_it_is.htm"><span class="l">Moreover, it is Right that Thou Shouldest Fear God While Thou Art <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> [120] [The incomparable beauty of our English version of this twelfth chapter of<br> <b>Koheleth</b> is heightened not a little by comparison with this turgid metaphrase. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../a metaphrase of the book of ecclesiastes/chapter xii moreover it is.htm</font><p><a href="/library/swete/an_introduction_to_the_old_testament_in_greek_additional_notes/chapter_ii_books_of_the.htm"><span class="l">Books of the Hebrew Canon.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> untersucht (ZATW., 1894). ECCLESIASTES. Wright, The book of <b>Koheleth</b> (1883). Gr??tz,<br> <b>Koheleth</b> (1884). <b>...</b> Dillmann, ?锟絙er die Gr. ??bersetzung des <b>Koheleth</b> (1892). <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter ii books of the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/barrows/companion_to_the_bible/chapter_xxi_the_poetical_books.htm"><span class="l">The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).</span></a> <br><b>...</b> IV. ECCLESIASTES. 15. The Hebrew name of this book is <b>Koheleth</b>, respecting<br> the meaning of which there has been much discussion. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxi the poetical books.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/k/koheleth.htm"><span class="l"><b>Koheleth</b> (7 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia <b>KOHELETH</b>. ko-hel'-eth (qoheleth). See<br> ECCLESIASTES. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Koheleth</b> (7 Occurrences). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/koheleth.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/k/kol.htm"><span class="l">Kol</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/kol.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/ecclesiastes.htm"><span class="l">Ecclesiastes (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The Greek rendering of the Hebrew <b>Koheleth</b>, which means "Preacher." The old and<br> traditional view of the authorship of this book attributes it to Solomon. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/ecclesiastes.htm - 27k</font><p><a href="/topical/k/kohath's.htm"><span class="l">Kohath's (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/kohath's.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/d/delightful.htm"><span class="l">Delightful (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (See NAS). Ecclesiastes 12:10 <b>Koheleth</b> sought to find out words of delight, and<br> that which was written uprightly, even words of truth. (See NAS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/d/delightful.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/preacher.htm"><span class="l">Preacher (27 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Other works are those of JF Genung, Ecclesiastes, and Omar Khayyam, 1901, Words<br> of <b>Koheleth</b>, 1904, and The Hebrew Literature of Wisdom in the Light of Today <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/preacher.htm - 48k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/proverbs.htm"><span class="l">Proverbs (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> also the proverb of this type was by the term "of Solomon" differentiated from mashal<br> of other types, as for instance those of Balaam and Job and <b>Koheleth</b>. II. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/proverbs.htm - 43k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/songs.htm"><span class="l">Songs (100 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1857; H. Ewald, Dichter des Alten Bundes, III, 333-426, 1867; FC Cook, in Biblical<br> Commentary, 1874; Franz Delitzsch, Hoheslied u. <b>Koheleth</b>, 1875 (also <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/songs.htm - 62k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/song.htm"><span class="l">Song (207 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1857; H. Ewald, Dichter des Alten Bundes, III, 333-426, 1867; FC Cook, in Biblical<br> Commentary, 1874; Franz Delitzsch, Hoheslied u. <b>Koheleth</b>, 1875 (also <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/song.htm - 78k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Koheleth (7 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:1</a></span><br />The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-2.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:2</a></span><br />Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-12.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:12</a></span><br />I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.<br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-27.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:27</a></span><br />Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account; <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:8</a></span><br />Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-9.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:9</a></span><br />And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and'set in order many proverbs. <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:10</a></span><br />The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth. <br /><span class="source">(See JPS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/k/koheleth.htm">Koheleth</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bath.htm">Bath (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eshcol.htm">Eshcol (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/colhozeh.htm">Colhozeh (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/collar.htm">Collar (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/chalkol.htm">Chalkol</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/col-hozeh.htm">Col-hozeh (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/calcol.htm">Calcol (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/voice.htm">Voice (651 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/koheleth.htm">Koheleth (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kolaiah.htm">Kolaiah (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tubalcain.htm">Tubalcain (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tubal-cain.htm">Tubal-cain (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/perpetual.htm">Perpetual (57 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/perpetuity.htm">Perpetuity (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/phicol.htm">Phicol (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/perpetually.htm">Perpetually (10 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/psychology.htm">Psychology</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/chalcol.htm">Chalcol (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/caul.htm">Caul (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a 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