Ecclesiastes 1

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[6][lower-alpha 1] Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls: 4QQoh^b (4Q110; 30 BCE ‑ 30 CE; extant verses 8-15).[8][9][10]

A page containing Ecclesiastes 1:1-5:17 from Codex Gigas, 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; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century).[11] The Greek text is probably derived from the work of Aquila of Sinope or his followers.[3]

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.[12]

• "Preacher": "Convener" or "Collector"; Hebrew: קהלת‎, Qoheleth[13] (so throughout Ecclesiastes),[14] meaning simply "teacher" (a Hebrew participle).[15] Its verbal root qahal means 'to assemble'.[16]
• "The son of David, king in Jerusalem" refers to any king in the line of David ("Davidic King").[16][3] This is picked up in Ecclesiastes 1:12, 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 'far-from-wise Rehoboam'.[3] 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 Song 1:1 or Proverbs 1:1.[16]

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.[17]

• "Vanity": the key term of this book[3] is the Hebrew term הבל, hebel,[18] translated "vanity" or "vain", concretely referring to a "mist," "vapor," or "mere breath," metaphorically to 'something that is fleeting or elusive' (with different nuances depending on the context),[19] also can be translated as 'Absurdity, Frustration, Futility, Nonsense.'[20] It appears five times in this verse alone and is found in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes.[19]
• "Vanity of vanities" (Hebrew: הבל הבלים habel habalim[18]): is the motto which appears again in the end of teaching in Ecclesiastes 12:8.[3]

What profit has a man from all his labor

In which he toils under the sun?[21]

This rhetorical question follows the claim of "vanity" and is followed by the portrayal of a world 'impervious to human effort.'[3]

• "Profit" (ESV: "gain"; Hebrew: יתרון‎, yithron,[22]): a term used in (ancient) commerce.[23]
• Both the noun "labor" and the verb "toil" come from the Hebrew root word amal (עמל, as noun or verb[22]) which may refer to 'physical effort' (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:4–8; Psalm 127:1) or to 'mental and emotional heaviness' (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:3; Psalm 25:18).[23]

For in much wisdom is much grief,

And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow[24]

The Teacher (Qoheleth) pessimistically concluded that wisdom and knowledge only enhance 'vexation and sorrow'.[25]