Ecclesiastes 1:1

King James Version (KJV)

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The words of the Preacher - Literally, "The words of Choheleth, son of David, king of Jerusalem." But the Targum explains it thus: "The words of the prophecy, which Choheleth prophesied; the same is Solomon, son of David the king, who was in Jerusalem. For when Solomon, king of Israel, saw by the spirit of prophecy that the kingdom of Rehoboam his son was about to be divided with Jeroboam, the son of Nebat; and the house of the sanctuary was about to be destroyed, and the people of Israel sent into captivity; he said in his word - Vanity of vanities is all that I have labored, and David my father; they are altogether vanity." The word קהלת Koheleth is a feminine noun, from the root קהל kahal, to collect, gather together, assemble; and means, she who assembles or collects a congregation; translated by the Septuagint, ekklhsiasthv, a public speaker, a speaker in an assembly; and hence translated by us a preacher. In my old MS. Bible it is explained thus: a talker to the peple; or togyder cleping.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Preacher - literally, Convener. No one English word represents the Hebrew קהלת qôheleth adequately. Though capable, according to Hebrew usage, of being applied to men in office, it is strictly a feminine participle, and describes a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if with the intention of addressing them. The word thus understood refers us to the action of Wisdom personified Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 8:8. In Proverbs and here, Solomon seems to support two characters, speaking sometimes in the third person as Wisdom instructing the assembled people, at other times in the first person. So our Lord speaks of Himself (compare Luke 11:49 with Matthew 23:34) as Wisdom, and as desiring Luke 13:34 to gather the people together for instruction; It is unfortunate that the word “Preacher” does not bring this personification before English minds, but a different idea.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Much is to be learned by comparing one part of Scripture with another. We here behold Solomon returning from the broken and empty cisterns of the world, to the Fountain of living water; recording his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his disappointment, and the lessons he had learned. Those that have taken warning to turn and live, should warn others not to go on and die. He does not merely say all things are vain, but that they are vanity. VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. This is the text of the preacher's sermon, of which in this book he never loses sight. If this world, in its present state, were all, it would not be worth living for; and the wealth and pleasure of this world, if we had ever so much, are not enough to make us happy. What profit has a man of all his labour? All he gets by it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its desires; will not atone for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the loss of it: what profit will the wealth of the world be to the soul in death, in judgment, or in the everlasting state?

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. The words of. Thus begins the title verse of the book. Three other Bible books begin in a similar way: Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. The Hebrew term translated “words” also means “tidings,” “report,” “message,” “story,” “charge.”

The Preacher. Heb. Qoheleth, from the verb qahal, “to assemble,” “to come together.” For examples of the use of qahal see 2 Chron. 20:26; Esther 9:2, 16, 18; etc. The cognate noun, translated “assembly,” “congregation,” “company,” appears 122 times in the OT.

Jewish writers have explained Qoheleth as meaning “one who assembles a congregation and expounds teaching.” Others render it “Preacher” because, it is said, Solomon delivered these discourses before a congregation. It is similar to an Arabic root variously translated as “great collector,” “deep investigator” (see PK 85; also the Introduction to Ecclesiastes).

The son of David. That is, Solomon. Who better than he, whom God had endowed with the capacity of a genius (1 Kings 3:9-13) but who wasted his heritage in the wild pursuit of happiness, was qualified to set forth the profound truths here recorded?

King in Jerusalem. This phrase has reference to the Preacher, not to King David. At the time of speaking the “Preacher” rules as “king.” Undoubtedly this expression is a direct reference to King Solomon, despite the fact that his name does not appear in the book. Other expressions that point to Solomon are the references to his wisdom and to him as author of various proverbs (see Eccl. 1:12, 13, 16; 2:15; 12:9; cf. 1 Kings 3:12; 4:32).

The city of Jerusalem, the capital of the nation, gloriously situated, was not only the place of the royal residence, but above all, the chosen seat of God among His people. Here religion and divine wisdom should have been at their purest and highest degree of excellence. The ruler on his throne in such a city should have been the ideal agent, amenable to God’s guidance and subject to His will, to radiate divine wisdom to a waiting and receptive people.

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Cross References

the Preacher