Bible Book of Ecclesiastes | The Meaning of Life

A search for the meaning of life, concluding that everything is vanity apart from fearing God and keeping His commands. Ecclesiastes chapters with summary and commentary.

Genre: Wisdom Literature. Theme: The Meaning of Life

  • Author: Solomon
  • Date: c. 935 BC
  • Read Time: 35 mins
  • Purpose: To show that life without God is 'vanity'.
  • Key Verse: Eccl 12:13 - Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
  • Christ: The True Meaning of Life.
  • Audience: The philosophical seeker struggling with the futility of life
  • Perspective: Life 'under the sun' vs. eternity.
  • Under The Sun: The technical phrase for a worldview that excludes the eternal or the heavenly.
  • Hevel Concept: The use of the word 'Vanity' (breath/vapor) to describe the fleeting nature of life.

This book is a rigorous intellectual search for meaning in a broken world, concluding that life apart from God is utterly meaningless.

It functions as a 'pre-evangelistic' book, stripping away every earthly confidence to prepare the heart for God.

Jesus is the True Meaning of Life who redeems our labor from the 'vanity' of the curse.

Ecclesiastes 1 - All is Vanity

Everything is meaningless! There is nothing new under the sun. I applied my heart to know wisdom, but much wisdom brings much sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 2 - The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

I built houses, gathered possessions and sought pleasure. It was meaningless! The wise die like the foolish. I despaired of my toil.

Ecclesiastes 3 - There is a Season for Everything

There is a time for everything: to live, to die, to mourn, to dance. It is the gift of God that man should find pleasure in his work.

Ecclesiastes 4 - Evil Under the Sun

I saw the tears of the oppressed. Two have a good reward for their toil. I saw everyone follow a new king. This too is meaningless!

Ecclesiastes 5 - Fear God

Do not make rash vows before God. The lover of money never has enough. What is gained by toil? It is good to find enjoyment in life.

Ecclesiastes 6 - There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on

Here is an evil: to have wealth and honour but not to enjoy them. What do the wise gain over fools? The more words, the less meaning.

Ecclesiastes 7 - The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. Do not be too righteous, or too wicked. Men have gone in search of many schemes.

Ecclesiastes 8 - Keep the King's Command

Obey the king's command. Though sinners do evil, it will be well for those who fear God. No one can know what goes on under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9 - Death Comes to All

The same fate comes to all. A living dog is better than a dead lion. Enjoy the days of your vain life. Wisdom is better than strength.

Ecclesiastes 10 - Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly

A little folly spoils wisdom. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. The lips of a fool consume him. Through laziness the roof leaks.

Ecclesiastes 11 - Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

Whoever watches the clouds will never reap. You do not know what will prosper. Enjoy your youth, but know that God will judge you.

Ecclesiastes 12 - Remember you Creator

Remember your Creator in your youth, before the days of trouble come. Everything is meaningless! Fear God and keep his commandments.