TEXT [Commentary]

black diamond   Superscription (1:1)

1 These are the words of the Teacher,[*] King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.

NOTES

1:1 the Teacher. The Hebrew is Qoheleth (cf. NLT mg). This word is the participle of a verb that means “to assemble (a group).” The traditional translations of “the Teacher” or “the Preacher” derive from the idea that the group is either a classroom or a congregation. Indeed, the name of the book, Ecclesiastes, comes from a Gr. word that means “the Preacher.” In actuality, though, the use of Qoheleth as a name or title is intended to further the Solomonic fiction described in the Introduction (see “Author”), because the verb “to assemble” occurs frequently in connection with Solomon’s actions in 1 Kings 8.

COMMENTARY [Text]

The superscription acts like the title page of the book. Here it identifies in general terms the form of the message that follows (“these are the words”), as well as the source of the teaching that is found in 1:12–12:7 (“the Teacher”). For more about this superscription, please consult the “Author” section in the Introduction.