קֹהֶ֫לֶת

From the study of Ecclesiastes 1:2

Range of meaning

Participle (an '-er' word) from the verb qahal, 'to assemble, convene', related to qahal, 'assembly, congregation'. So 'one who assembles' — whether gathering people to address them, or (some suggest) gathering sayings and wisdom (compare 12:9, where he 'weighed, studied and arranged many proverbs'). The feminine ending marks an office or professional title, as with the 'soferet' (scribe office) and 'pokheret hatsevaim' (gazelle-keeper) clans in Ezra 2:55–57. Usually used without the article as if a name (1:1, 2, 12), but with it in 12:8 ('the Qohelet'), showing it is a title.

Against the English

KJV/ESV/WEB/YLT 'Preacher' (via Greek Ekklēsiastēs, 'one who speaks in the ekklēsia/assembly', and Luther's 'Prediger'); BSB/NIV/NLT/CSB 'Teacher'. 'Preacher' now suggests a Christian minister delivering a sermon; 'Teacher' fits the book's wisdom content but loses the 'assembly' root. 'Convener' or 'Assembler' is closest to the form.

How it drifted

'Preacher' was a fair rendering of the Greek and Latin title, but modern readers attach church and sermon associations that belong to a later institution.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint translates Ekklēsiastēs, from ekklēsia, the standard Greek word for the gathered assembly of Israel (qahal); this gave the book its Greek and Latin title, Ecclesiastes. The Aramaic Targum identifies Qohelet with Solomon, following 1:1 and 1:12.

From the study of Ecclesiastes 12:9

Range of meaning

A participle (a verb used as a noun or adjective) from the root q-h-l, 'to assemble, convene'. The related noun qahal means 'assembly, congregation'. Its form is feminine even though it refers to a man. That pattern is used for titles of offices in late Hebrew: compare the clan names hassoferet ('the scribe-office', Ezra 2:55; Nehemiah 7:57) and pokheret hatstseva'im (Ezra 2:57). So it probably means 'the Convener' or 'the Assembler', a function-title rather than a birth name.

Against the English

KJV and WEB: 'the Preacher'. BSB, NIV, NLT: 'the Teacher'. NRSV and many scholars simply transliterate: 'Qohelet' or 'Koheleth'. 'Preacher' comes through the Greek Ekklēsiastēs ('one who addresses the ekklēsia / assembly'), Jerome's Latin concionator ('speaker to an assembly'), and Luther's Prediger. 'Teacher' fits this verse but loses the 'assembly' root.

How it drifted

'Preacher' made Qohelet sound like a clergyman delivering sermons. The Hebrew points to someone who gathers: either gathers people to address them, or (as this verse suggests) gathers and arranges sayings.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word occurs only in Ecclesiastes (1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10). The verb qahal in the causative form means 'convene' (e.g. 1 Kings 8:1, Solomon assembling Israel), which the book's Solomonic framing may echo. The Septuagint's Ekklēsiastēs gave the book its Greek and English name.