Questions tagged [ecclesiastes]
The book of Ecclesiastes (Hebrew: Kohelet, Qoheleth), attributed to Solomon. Not to be confused with the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus (also known as the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach).
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Is being too good as a Christian a sin?
Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 NLT
[16] So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? [17] On
the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die
before your time.
What ...
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How are we to understand the earth does not move?
How are we to understand the creation of the earth / world and does the bible contradict science. A few passages;
Psalm 104:5 - He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. (NIV)
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‘Vanity’ v ‘Meaningless’ v ‘Futile’ in Ecclesiastes
The book of Ecclesiastes repeats the phrase “vanity of vanities”, or similar, many times in some translations, including ESV. However, in some other translations, it is rendered “meaningless, ...
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Reconciling Ecclesiastes 8:12 claim that sinner might be lengthening his life Vs Ecclesiastes 8:13 claim that the evil man will Not lengthen his days?
8:12-13 The Westminster Leningrad Codex
12 אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֹטֶ֗א עֹשֶׂ֥ה רָ֛ע מְאַ֖ת וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ ל֑וֹ כִּ֚י
גַּם־יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִהְיֶה־טּוֹב֙ לְיִרְאֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים
אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽירְא֖וּ מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃...
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Is Ecclesiastes 8:10 about pretentiously deceptive followers of God Or just the customary funeral ceremony that most of the dead undergo?
8:9-11 The Westminster Leningrad Codex
9 אֶת־כָּל־זֶ֤ה רָאִ֙יתִי֙ וְנָת֣וֹן אֶת־לִבִּ֔י לְכָֽל־מַעֲשֶׂ֔ה
אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֵ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֧ט הָאָדָ֛ם
בְּאָדָ֖ם לְרַ֥ע לֽוֹ׃
10 ...
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Ecclesiastes aims to desensitise us from worldly aspects ( and/or helps De-idolizing/De-worshipping worldly aspects?)
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-3) 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David,
king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity
of vanities! All is vanity.” 3 What advantage does man have in ...
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Ecclesiastes 1:12
Ecclesiastes 1:12 says
I, Qoheleth, was king in Jerusalem over Israel.
and 1:1
The words of Qoheletha son of David, king in Jerusalem.
This is usually interpreted as if Solomon was the author of ...
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Ecclesiastes 3:1 and the Hebrew for "seasons" and "time"
I've seen a couple of translations for the Hebrew in this passage. On this forum, someone noted " זְמָן which means set or appointed time or עֵת which means time of an event or experience "
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Is there a contradiction in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13?
Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 NASB
“Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be ...
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Does man have no advantage over animals according to Ecclesiastes 3:19?
Ecclesiastes 3:19 NASB
For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for men over ...
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Do the (Isaiah 29:7-9) and (Ecclesiastes 5:3) bible verses relate to dreams and visions associated with fleshly desires as opposed to Godly?
Related Question Postings:
https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/a/30584/19810
Analyzing ( Jeremiah 29:8 ) rejection of other prophets prophecy by keeping Jeremiah 28 & Jeremiah 29 in context
I ...
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Why are the righteous taken away from the evil to come?
Isaiah 57:1 (KJV)
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful
men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away
from the evil to come.
Why are the ...
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Do Proverbs 15:24 and Ecclesiastes 3:21 suggest that the righteous ascend (up) and the wicked descend (down, to Sheol/Abaddon) at death?
Proverbs 15 (ESV):
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof ...
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According to Ecclesiastes, what part of man goes to Sheol?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 suggest that the spirits of animals and humans go to different places in the spiritual realm upon death?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Do we go to Heaven (because God is in Heaven) or to Sheol when we die? Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 vs. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 (ESV):
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to ...
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Is there a contradiction between Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 & 1 Samuel 28?
The Passages
Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 (ESV):
5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love and their ...
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What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV):
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"? ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 9:10 affirm that the dead are unconscious?
In my opinion, one of the passages that most clearly support the belief that the dead are unconscious is Ecclesiastes 9:10:
10 All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work,...
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Does Luke 23:46 indicate that Jesus believed his God was the source of his life? [duplicate]
Luke 23:46 ASV
And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus also said in John 6:56 ASV that,
As the ...
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Does Stephen asking Jesus to receive his spirit indicate that he believes Jesus is God?
Acts 7:59-60 "They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, ...
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Ecclesiastes 12:9 the teacher was wise. Why past tense?
Near the end of the book, Ecclesiastes 12:9
New International Version
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many ...
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Does the human spirit rise up after a person dies?
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 12:
7
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
This is confirmed in
Act 7:
54 When the members of ...
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Why have biblical translators chosen to use "vanity" instead of "meaningless" or "futile" for the Hebrew "hā·ḇel" in Ecclesiastes 12:8?
The word "vanity" is often used in modern Bible translations. As cited in the question, from the Book of Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 12:8: "'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher, 'all ...
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What is the point of switching from 1st person perspective to 3rd then back to 1st in Ecclesiastes 7:26-27?
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7 starts with first-person perspective without quotation marks:
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands ...
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What is the difference between Latin words "cupire" and "desiderare" in Ecclesiastes 6:9?
What is the difference between Latin words "cupire" and "desiderare" in "Melius est videre quod cupias, quam desiderare quod nescias." (It is better to see (=contemplate?)...
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What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires
In Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NASB)
What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind.
What's the meaning of the part I marked in bold?
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Meaning of "For when a face is sad a heart may be happy"
In Ecclesiastes 7:3 (NASB)
Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
What is the meaning of "For when a face is sad a heart may be happy"?
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Are humans made of body + spirit or body + soul + spirit? Genesis 2:7 & Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 vs 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [closed]
Genesis 2:7 gives the idea that a human being is the combination of a physical body (from dust) and a spirit (God's breath of life):
7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and ...
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Who is the “foreigner” in Ecclesiastes 6:2?
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 (NASB)
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men— a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all ...
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The dead forget OR the dead will be forgotten? Ecclesiastes 9:5
Ecclesiastes 9:5 has been used to suggest that the dead have no memory or the suggest that the dead are forgotten by others, and a variety of interpretations in between. A sampling of translations ...
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Ecclesiastes 12:7 implications for animals?
Where Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that when a human being dies with God, his soul returns to God, and the physical body returns to dust--does this also happen with animals?
Then shall the dust return to ...
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How should we interpret Ecclesiastes 9:5 in the case of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 (NASB):
5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their memory is forgotten.
Mark 12:26-27 (NASB):
26 ...
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Solomon's view on "excessive righteousness"
Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
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Ecclesiastes - Could Solomon have repented and been forgiven for his sinful life
In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon looks back over his wasted years and finds no joy in them, only futility, vanity, and “a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). He concludes that everything ...
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Were the words changed to preserve alliteration in Ecclesiastes 12:6-7?
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 NIV reads:
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
Each ...
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Did Solomon apply Ecclesiastes 7:26 to himself?
Ecclesiastes 7:26
I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
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The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. How?
Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
What does this mean?
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Did the story mentioned in Ecclesiastes 9:13 really happen?
Ecclesiastes 9:13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 4:3 refer to the unborn?
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4:3
But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
Why would his lots be better off?
...
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Who are the ones who "ruled Jerusalem before me" in Ecclesiastes 1:16?
Ecclesiastes 1:16 (GNT): I told myself, "I have become a great man, far wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are."
The author presents ...
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Is the translation 'the earth abideth for ever' accurate (Ecclesiastes 1:4)?
Ecclesiastes 1:4 :
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. [KJV]
A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is ...
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Meaningless vs eternity in Ecclesiastes, are they opposites?
Ecclesiastes 1:2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He ...
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How narratology used in biblical hermeneutics
I am doing research on methodology in the hermeneutics of Ecclesiastes. Is narratology is a good method?
Garbo.
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Ecclesiastes 12:9-11, could we discern some aspects of the personality of Jesus from these verses?
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11, (DRB):
9And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables. 10He sought ...
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Who is the second child in Ecclesiastes 4:15?
YLT - 4:13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more. YLT - 4:14 For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his ...
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What does "vanity" mean in "the creature was made subject to vanity" in Romans 8:20?
I suggest: "Vanity" describes either Adam's sin [ the first recorded sin] or God's reaction to that sin, the curse of Gen 3.
The A.V. always translates "mataiotei" as "vanity". It comes in three ...
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Is John 3:8 an allusion to Ecclesiastes 11:5?
In John 3:8 Jesus is talking to the Pharisee and senior Jewish figure Nicodemus.
"The wind bloweth where it listesth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and ...
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Is the ESV reading of Ecclesiastes 11:5 faithful to the Hebrew?
The ESV is unlike the other translations in that it seems see "way of the spirit" as a fetal development matter which the author is using as how inscrutable are God's ways. In other translations "way ...
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Can we assume scripture/history will repeat itself due to Ecclesiastes 1:9?
I'm intrigued by this verse in Ecclesiastes:
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV
However, in ...
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