Who is the Qoheleth in Ecclesiastes?

Answer

Qoheleth, a Hebrew term meaning “preacher,” “teacher,” or “a collector of sayings,” is found in the opening verse of the book of Ecclesiastes. The literal Hebrew title of this book is “The Words of Qoheleth, the Son of David, King in Jerusalem,” often shortened to just “Qoheleth.” The Preacher (or Teacher) is also referenced in Ecclesiastes 1:12; 7:27; and 12:8–11.

The book of Ecclesiastes does not provide specific details about the identity of Qoheleth. Nevertheless, evidence from the text of Ecclesiastes and other biblical passages leads most scholars to believe that Solomon is the Preacher and author.

One reason for identifying Qoheleth as Solomon is that Solomon was once the king of Israel, and Ecclesiastes 1:1 introduces the Preacher as “king in Jerusalem.” Additionally, in line with Ecclesiastes 1:1, Solomon was a “son of David.” Although the term “son of” can sometimes refer to a descendant other than a son, Solomon was indeed the direct “son” of David, making the first verse of Ecclesiastes particularly applicable to him.

Most of the clues for identifying the Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes are found towards the end of the book. Ecclesiastes 12:9 mentions that the Qoheleth “pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.” This aligns with the Bible’s portrayal of Solomon as a writer of proverbs (1 Kings 4:32;Proverbs 1:1). The description of the Qoheleth as “wise” also corresponds with other passages about Solomon «And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. », (1 Kings 4:29).

Ecclesiastes 12:9 also portrays the Qoheleth as imparting knowledge.

Knowledge to people; this aligns with the biblical perspective of Solomon (1 Kings 4:33-34). Ecclesiastes 1:16–17 further emphasizes this.

The overall message of Ecclesiastes also corresponds with the concept of Solomon being the Qoheleth. Solomon was granted with profound wisdom, wealth, and authority (2 Chronicles 1:11-13). The author of Ecclesiastes indeed encountered wealth and authority (Ecclesiastes 2:6-7).

Regrettably, it appears that, for a period in his life, Solomon opted to utilize his wisdom in a manner that did not honor God. He married a vast number of women and had concubines in addition to them (1 Kings 11:1-3). Interestingly, nearly every other king of Israel is linked with a prophet, except Solomon. Even these details coincide with the notion that Solomon is the Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes, a book authored by an individual who had experimented with everything under the sun and concluded it all to be futile «Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. », (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Ecclesiastes narrates the journey of a man who pursued joy in various places but not in God and ultimately realized that God is the only thing that truly matters (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). This certainly aligns with the Bible’s portrayal of Solomon, particularly in terms of his wisdom, wealth, and spiritual understanding.

As the book of Ecclesiastes is technically authorless, there remains uncertainty regarding the identity of the Qoheleth. One primary reason some scholars doubt the assertion that Solomon is the Qoheleth is that other Old Testament pPassages detail Solomon’s spiritual decline (1 Kings 11:4-8), but do not mention a personal revival. The content of Ecclesiastes appears deeply introspective and intimate. The book elaborates on the teachings and remorse of a man reflecting on his life’s journey. It is plausible that Solomon wrote these words towards the end of his life. The challenges he faced in his later years may have led to a sense of repentance as well (1 Kings 11:9-12).

Overall, there is no concrete evidence to dispute that Solomon is the Qoheleth, with several indirect indications supporting this claim. Therefore, the prevailing belief is that the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is indeed Solomon, the son of David.