Ecclesiastes

Pronunciations

Ecclesiastes (ih-klee-zee-A-stees) listen

Definitions

Example Sentences

  • "Religious truth, especially as embodied in Jewish tradition is multifaceted. Ecclesiastes stands out from other parts of the Hebrew Bible in its contemplative sensibility, which in its determinism, often seems very pessimistic." (source)

Languages of Origin

  • English

Etymology

  • Ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἐκκλησιαστής ekklēsiastḗs > Latin Ecclesiastes

    • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

Notes

  • "It is read in synagogue on Sukkot. Ecclesiastes offers a discourse on the meaning of life. It was originally thought to have been written by King Solomon in his old age, but its author is now described simply as Kohelet, 'the preacher.' In Hebrew, the book is named Kohelet. It is the source of many famous sayings, including 'there is nothing new under the sun.'" (JPS)

    See also Kohelet.

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