The Book of Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes searches for meaning 'under the sun' and finds that life apart from God is vapor and chasing wind — calling us to fear God, enjoy his gifts, and remember our end.

Testament: Old (12 chapters)
Type: Wisdom
Date: Probably 10th or 3rd c. BC depending on authorship assumed.

The vanity of life under the sun

The book's hammer-blow refrain — 'Vanity of vanities; all is vanity' — uses a Hebrew word (hevel) that means breath or vapor. Wealth, pleasure, work, even wisdom apart from God all turn to vapor. The honesty is bracing.

Receive life as a gift

Within the vapor, Ecclesiastes counsels: eat your bread with joy, drink your wine with a merry heart, enjoy your spouse, do your work — for these are God's gifts. The closing word: 'Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man' (12:13).

Key verses (KJV)

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11 (KJV)

“Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” — Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)

How to read Ecclesiastes

Read in one sitting if you can — it's twelve chapters and the cumulative weight matters. Pair with the book of Job — both deal honestly with life's hardest realities, from different angles.

Read Ecclesiastes on your iPhone

Read the full book of Ecclesiastes in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

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Popular chapters in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Book of Ecclesiastes about?

Ecclesiastes is a book of Wisdom, running to 12 chapters. Its main threads: The vanity of life under the sun; Receive life as a gift.

Who wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes?

Traditionally Solomon ('the Preacher, the son of David'). Many scholars see a later Solomonic-styled persona.

Where does Ecclesiastes come in the Bible?

Ecclesiastes is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the Wisdom books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.