Ecclesiastes was penned at the hand of Israel’s King Solomon, the son of David (1:1). In the Hebrew, he calls himself “Qoheleth” which means “preacher” or “teacher.” The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek (not the Hebrew) and is a form of “ekklesia” which is the Greek word for “church” in the NT. Therefore, on a more specific note, Ecclesiastes refers to an assembly and Solomon is the Preacher addressing the congregation.
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,” says the Preacher. This phrase is used thirty-six times in Ecclesiastes. The word for “vanity” in Hebrew does not mean “excessive pride.” Instead, this word “hebel” means “wind,” “vapor,” “puff of smoke” or “breath.” Taken literally, the Hebrew word refers to a puff of smoke rising from a chimney in the winter or the steam that rises from a hot cup of coffee. According to the Preacher, life is like that. It is nothing more than a vapor, or a mist. You see it for a moment, then it is gone. Even the Bible compares our lives to a mere breath (Ps. 39:5), and to a mist that appears for a short time then vanishes (Jam. 4:14).
The Preacher connects the transience of life with life’s meaningless pursuits and declares that they are vanity! The NIV translates “hebel” as meaningless. The Preacher wants to let his assembly know that a life inundated with trivial pursuits will end up meaningless. “All is vanity” according to the Preacher. Life is full of frustrated futility. In other words, nothing in this life will make us happy. It is vanity and a “vexation of spirit” (1:14). This phrase in the Hebrew refers to a chasing after wind. Chasing after vapors is meaningless. Not being able to acquire a vapor causes a vexation of spirit.
According to the Preacher, everything under the sun is meaningless. “Under the sun” expresses the extent of our problem. Where do we experience life’s futility and frustration? Everywhere the sun shines. Yet this phrase also opens up the possibility of a different perspective. To see things “under the sun” is to look at them from the ground level, taking an earthly point of view and leaving God out of the picture.
Ecclesiastes shows us the weariness of life and the frustrations of living under the sun. It reveals that what is under the sun cannot give meaning, satisfaction or purpose. Certainly if we leave God out of our lives, then everything is vanity. Keeping God at the center of our lives, however, gives purpose to everything that we do.