Ecclesiastes 1#Verse 1

File:Fl- 366 Biblia de Cervera, Ecclesiastes.jpg

The original text was written in Hebrew. This chapter is divided into 18 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}{{efn|Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947 the whole book has been missing from the Aleppo Codex.{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=New Catholic Encyclopedia | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}}} Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls: 4Q110; 30 BC{{snd}}30 AD; extant verses 8–15).{{Cite book | editor-last = Ulrich | editor-first = Eugene | editor-link = Eugene Ulrich | title = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants | year = 2010 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls/page/n762 746] | publisher = Brill | url = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls |access-date= May 15, 2017 | isbn= 9789004181830}}[https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#ecclesiastes Dead sea scrolls - Ecclesiastes]. Quote: 4QQoh{{sup|b}} 1:1-14{{Cite book|last = Fitzmyer|first = Joseph A. |title = A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature| author-link = Joseph Fitzmyer | publisher = William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC | year = 2008 | pages = 43 |isbn = 9780802862419 | location = Grand Rapids, MI | access-date= February 15, 2019}} Quote: 4QQoh{{sup|b}} 1:10-15.

File:CodexGigas 177 Proverbs.jpg, Latin translation of 13th century.]]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}} The Greek text is probably derived from the work of Aquila of Sinope or his followers.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}}

:The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:1|ESV}} ESV

• "Preacher": "Convener" or "Collector"; {{langx|he|קהלת}}, {{Strong-number|Qoheleth|H|6953}}[https://biblehub.com/text/ecclesiastes/1-1.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Ecclesiastes 1:1]. Biblehub (so throughout Ecclesiastes),Note [a] on Ecclesiastes 1:1 in ESV meaning simply "teacher" (a Hebrew participle).{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=610}} Its verbal root {{Strong-number|qahal|H|6951}} means 'to assemble'.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=609}}
• "The son of David, king in Jerusalem" may refer to any king in the line of David ("Davidic King").{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=609}}{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}} This is picked up in {{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|1:12|NKJV}}, which states that he ruled "Israel" from Jerusalem; if "Israel" is meant to include the Northern Kingdom of Israel, then the only descendants of David to rule it were Solomon or his son, the 'far-from-wise Rehoboam'.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}}{{efn|1 Kings 12 records that Rehoboam sought advice from the elders who had served his father, then rejected their advice in favour of that of the young men with whom he had grown up.}} From the further descriptions in chapter 1 and 2 clearly "Qoheleth" refers to Solomon, although the name 'Solomon' is avoided, not explicitly claimed as in {{bibleverse|Song|1:1|KJV}} or {{bibleverse|Proverbs|1:1|KJV}}.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=609}}

File:Fool's Cap World Map RMG L8314-001.jpg translation of Ecclesiastes 1:15: 'Stultorum infinitus est numerus' {{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:15|VULGATE}} Vulgate ("The number of fools is infinite").]]

:Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

::vanity of vanities! All is vanity.{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:2|ESV}} ESV

The Lexham English Bible calls this verse the preacher's "motto".{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:2|LEB}} Lexham English Bible The motto appears again at the end of his teaching in Ecclesiastes 12:8.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}} "Vanity", the key term of this book,{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}} translates the Hebrew term {{lang|he|הבל}}, {{Strong-number|hebel|H|1892}},[https://biblehub.com/text/ecclesiastes/1-2.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Ecclesiastes 1:2]. Biblehub meaning "vanity" or "vain", concretely referring to a "mist", "vapor", or "mere breath", and metaphorically to 'something that is fleeting or elusive' (with different nuances depending on the context).Note [a] on Ecclesiastes 1:2 in ESV It can also be translated as 'Absurdity, Frustration, Futility, Nonsense'.Note a on Ecclesiastes 1:2 in NKJV The word appears five times in this verse alone and is found in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes.

"Vanity of vanities" reflects the Hebrew: {{lang|he|הבל הבלים}} ({{Strong-number|habel|H|1892}} {{Strong-number|habalim|H|1892}}).

:What profit has a man from all his labor

:In which he toils under the sun?{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:3|ESV}} ESV

This rhetorical question follows the claim of "vanity" and is followed by the portrayal of a world 'impervious to human effort.'{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}}

• "Profit" (ESV: "gain"; {{langx|he|יתרון}}, {{Strong-number|yithron|H|3504}},[https://biblehub.com/text/ecclesiastes/1-3.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Ecclesiastes 1:3]. Biblehub): a term used in (ancient) commerce.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=611}}
• Both the noun "labor" and the verb "toil" come from the Hebrew root word amal ({{lang|he|עמל}}, as {{Strong-number|noun|H|5999}} or {{Strong-number|verb|H|5998}}) which may refer to 'physical effort' (cf. {{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|2:4-8|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|127:1|KJV}}) or to 'mental and emotional heaviness' (cf. {{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|2:3|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|25:18|KJV}}).{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=611}}

Verse 9 contains the well-known saying, "there is nothing new under the sun".

:There is no remembrance of former things,

:Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come

:By those who will come after.{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:11|NKJV}}: NKJV

"So ends the prologue of the book, sounding its terrible sentence of despair on life and all its interests."Plumptre, E. H. (1888), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/ecclesiastes/1.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Ecclesiastes 1, accessed 12 September 2022 Edward Plumptre argues that "former things" and "things ... to come" should be translated as "former men" and "those that shall come after". The New International Version translates this verse as "No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them".{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:11|NIV}}: NIV

The problems declared in the earlier part are attempted to be solved using 'wisdom', but the conclusion in this part is that wisdom can only enlarge one's view of the problem but does not bring any solution, and the real solution is still to be anticipated.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=611}} Biblical commentator Stuart Weeks reads these verses with chapter 2 as a single "fictional memoir" recounting the preacher's "quest for understanding".{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}}

:I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:13|NKJV}}: NKJV

The King James Version of this verse reads "I gave my heart ...",{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:13|KJV}}: KJV words "expressive of the spirit of an earnest seeker, [and] eminently characteristic of this book". In Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of life, or emotion, but also the seat of reason.

:For in much wisdom is much grief,

:And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|1:18|NKJV}} NKJV

The Teacher (Qoheleth) pessimistically concludes that wisdom and knowledge only enhance 'vexation and sorrow'.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=424}}

• Related Bible parts: Psalm 127, Ecclesiastes 12

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last= Eaton| first= Michael A. | chapter= Ecclesiastes| editor-last=Carson |editor-first=D. A. |title=New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition| editor-link= D. A. Carson| editor-last2= France |editor-first2= R. T. | editor2-link= R. T. France |editor-first3=J. A. |editor-last3= Motyer | editor3-link = J. Alec Motyer| editor-first4= G. J. |editor-last4= Wenham | editor4-link = Gordon Wenham| edition=4, illustrated, reprint, revised| publisher= Inter-Varsity Press | date= 1994| isbn = 9780851106489 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uveHQgAACAAJ |pages= 609–618}}
• {{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| author-link= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{cite book|last= Weeks | first= Stuart |chapter = 20. Ecclesiastes | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 423–429 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

{{wikisource|Ecclesiastes (Bible)|Ecclesiastes}}

{{wiktionary|Ecclesiastes}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16462/jewish/Chapter-1.htm Kohelet – Ecclesiastes - Chapter 1 (Judaica Press)] translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Ecclesiastes+1 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=1&version=9 Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 King James Version]
• {{librivox book | title=Ecclesiastes}} Various versions

{{Ecclesiastes}}

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