Ecclesiastes is the Book of Emptiness. “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Living a life without Christ, and without the clear direction of the Word of God, is an empty life. Solomon, as he forsakes his wisdom, attempts to find meaning in life though human viewpoint, and finds only emptiness. Believers should find a great warning in this Book. If the wisest man in history can depart from Divine wisdom, any believer is vulnerable to such apostasy.
The English title “Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek Septuagint title, meaning preacher (related to ekklesia: church/assembly). This translation comes from the Hebrew title, Qoheleth, meaning collector, or preacher.
Universal tradition ascribes Ecclesiastes to Solomon. Of all the sons of David, who became King in Jerusalem (Ecc. 1:1), Solomon best fits the picture of the pursuit of pleasure (Ecc. 2:1-3), impressive accomplishments (Ecc. 2:4-6), and unparalleled wealth (Ecc. 2:7-10). The order of Solomon’s works appears to be Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, although this cannot be proved with certainty.