<P> The book takes its name from the Greek ekklesiastes , a translation of the title by which the central figure refers to himself : Kohelet , meaning something like `` one who convenes or addresses an assembly '' . According to rabbinic tradition , Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age . ( An alternative tradition that `` Hezekiah and his colleagues wrote Isaiah , Proverbs , the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes '' probably means simply that the book was edited under Hezekiah . ) Nevertheless , critical scholars have long rejected the idea of a pre-exilic origin . The presence of Persian loan - words and Aramaisms points to a date no earlier than about 450 BCE , while the latest possible date for its composition is 180 BCE , when another Jewish writer , Ben Sira , quotes from it . The dispute as to whether Ecclesiastes belongs to the Persian or the Hellenistic periods ( i.e. , the earlier or later part of this period ) revolves around the degree of Hellenization ( influence of Greek culture and thought ) present in the book . Scholars arguing for a Persian date ( c. 450 -- 330 BCE ) hold that there is a complete lack of Greek influence ; those who argue for a Hellenistic date ( c. 330 -- 180 BCE ) argue that it shows internal evidence of Greek thought and social setting . </P>
<P> The book takes its name from the Greek ekklesiastes , a translation of the title by which the central figure refers to himself : Kohelet , meaning something like `` one who convenes or addresses an assembly '' . According to rabbinic tradition , Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his old age . ( An alternative tradition that `` Hezekiah and his colleagues wrote Isaiah , Proverbs , the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes '' probably means simply that the book was edited under Hezekiah . ) Nevertheless , critical scholars have long rejected the idea of a pre-exilic origin . The presence of Persian loan - words and Aramaisms points to a date no earlier than about 450 BCE , while the latest possible date for its composition is 180 BCE , when another Jewish writer , Ben Sira , quotes from it . The dispute as to whether Ecclesiastes belongs to the Persian or the Hellenistic periods ( i.e. , the earlier or later part of this period ) revolves around the degree of Hellenization ( influence of Greek culture and thought ) present in the book . Scholars arguing for a Persian date ( c. 450 -- 330 BCE ) hold that there is a complete lack of Greek influence ; those who argue for a Hellenistic date ( c. 330 -- 180 BCE ) argue that it shows internal evidence of Greek thought and social setting . </P>
what title does the author of ecclesiastes use for himself
what title does the author of ecclesiastes use for himself
Kohelet
Kohelet