Ecclesiastes

Ec·cle·si·as·tes

E0024100 (ĭ-klē′zē-ăs′tēz′)n. (used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible.

[Late Latin Ecclēsiastēs, from Greek Ekklēsiastēs, preacher (translation of Hebrew qōhelet), from ekklēsiastēs, a member of the ecclesia, from ekklēsiā, ecclesia; see ecclesia.]

Ecclesiastes

(ɪˌkliːzɪˈæstiːz) n (Bible) (functioning as singular) a book of the Old Testament, probably written about 250 bc[via Late Latin, from Greek ekklēsiastēs member of the assembly; see ecclesia]

Ec•cle•si•as•tes

(ɪˌkli ziˈæs tiz)

n. a book of the Bible, containing thoughts about life and its meaning. [< Late Latin < Greek ekklēsiastḗs person addressing an assembly, derivative of ekklēsí(a) ecclesia]

Thesaurus

Noun

Ecclesiastes - an Old Testament book consisting of reflections on the vanity of human life; is traditionally attributed to Solomon but probably was written about 250 BCBook of EcclesiastesOld Testament - the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian BibleHagiographa, Ketubim, Writings - the third of three divisions of the Hebrew Scripturessapiential book, wisdom book, wisdom literature - any of the biblical books (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus) that are considered to contain wisdom

Translations

Ecclesiastes

(ēklē'zēăs`tēz), book of the Bible, the name of which is a latinized derivation of the Hebrew Qohelet [the Preacher]. Although traditionally ascribed to Solomon (who is identified as the author in the text), it was clearly written much later (c.300 B.C.). Like Job, the book takes issue, it would seem, with the confident assertions of the Wisdom tradition exemplified by Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) and Proverbs, both of which stress the possibility of leading a life in harmony with cosmic order. For the author of Ecclesiastes, life bears no order and no meaning. Omnipresent wickedness and death are realities which mock all effort to find meaning and purpose in life. Moreover, the purposes of God cannot be fathomed. It opens with the theme that, since "all is vanity," life should be enjoyed. This is followed by passages in praise of wisdom and mercy, with increasing emphasis on the universality of death; there is a brief epilogue on the fear of God's judgment. Despite the devout and ill-fitting conclusion of the work, the apparent cynicism of the book as a whole is said to have distressed the ancient rabbis; some scholars ascribe to pious correctors a number of nonpessimistic observations. Ecclesiastes is one of the biblical examples of wisdom literature (see Wisdom of SolomonWisdom of Solomon
or Wisdom,
early Jewish book included in the Septuagint and the Vulgate but not in the Hebrew Bible. The book opens with an exhortation to seek wisdom, followed by a statement on worldly attitudes.
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Bibliography

See J. L. Crenshaw, Ecclesiastes (1987); R. Alter, The Wisdom Books (2010). See also bibliography for Old TestamentOld Testament,
Christian name for the Hebrew Bible, which serves as the first division of the Christian Bible (see New Testament). The designations "Old" and "New" seem to have been adopted after c.A.D.
..... Click the link for more information. .

Ecclesiastes

Ec·cle·si·as·tes

Ecclesiastes

Ec•cle•si•as•tes

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes

Bibliography

Ecclesiastes

Synonyms for Ecclesiastes

noun an Old Testament book consisting of reflections on the vanity of human life

Synonyms

Related Words