Navigating הבל (hbl): Qohelet's Meaning of Life and its Affinity with Frankl's Logotherapy

Christian Nito Antasuda Sanchez(1*), Bernadus Dirgaprimawan(2),

(1) Loyola School of Theology
(2) Faculty of Theology, Unoversitas Sanata Darma
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


How can Qohelet in the book of Ecclesiastes give us a new perspective on the modern understanding of the meaning of life? For us to answer this question, the paper attempts to investigate the concept of the word commonly translated as ‘absurd,’ ‘worthless,’ or ‘meaningless’ used by Qohelet, originally a Hebrew word הבל (hbl). In order to clarify Qohelet's perspective of life’s meaning, the paper uses a word study on הבל (hbl). The paper aims to discuss that הבל (hbl) can properly be read as a symbolic metaphor which is ‘vapor’ that can have varying degrees of meaning which include insubstantiality, transience, and foulness. By understanding Qohelet's concept of הבל (hbl) as a symbolic metaphor, the paper elucidates how to better understand the perspective of the book of Ecclesiastes on the meaning of life as it squares with Viktor Frankl’s theory of logotherapy, a leading contemporary view of life’s meaning in modern existential philosophy. Finally, the paper encourages a new examination of life's intricacies and aims to provide insights that resonate with today's meaning-seekers by tying the book of Ecclesiastes to the writings of Viktor Frankl. Each of our life journeys is unique, nevertheless, the paper provides a new perspective and suggests common values for which we all can travel forward in life to seek meaning in our daily lives.

Keywords


meaning of life, הבל (hbl), Ecclesiastes, Viktor Frankl, logotherapy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Commentaries

Bergant, Dianne. Israel’s Wisdom Literature: A Liberation-Critical Reading. A Liberation-Critical Reading of the Old Testament. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1997.

“Ecclesiastes Barnes’ Notes.” Accessed August 26, 2023. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/ecclesiastes/1.htm.

Enns, Peter. Ecclesiastes. The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 2011.

Fox, Michael V. A Time to Tear Down and A Time to Build Up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1999.

Lawlor, John I. “Ecclesiastes, An Earth Bible Commentary: Qohelet’s Eternal Earth.” Bulletin for Biblical Research 28, no. 3 (2018): 479–81. https://doi.org/10.5325/bullbiblrese.28.3.0479.

The Gospel Coalition. “TGC Course | Knowing the Bible: Ecclesiastes | 12-Week Bible Study.” Accessed September 6, 2023. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/knowing-the-bible-ecclesiastes/.

Tucker, Paavo N. “Ecclesiastes 5-12: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary.” Stone-Campbell Journal 25, no. 1 (2022): 137–39.

Word Studies

Fox, Michael V. “On הבל in Qohelet: A Reply to Mark Sneed.” Journal of Biblical Literature 138, no. 3 (2019): 559–63. https://doi.org/10.15699/jbl.1383.2019.653193.

Fox, Michael V. A Time to Tear Down and A Time to Build Up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, (1999): 27-50.

McKenna, John E. “The Concept of הבל (hbl) in the Book of Ecclesiastes.” Scottish Journal of Theology 45, no. 1 (February 1992): 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0036930600038886.

Meek, Russell L. “Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century Readings of הבל (hbl) (הֶבֶל) in Ecclesiastes.” Currents in Biblical Research 14, no. 3 (June 2016): 279–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476993X15586039

Miller, Douglas B. “Qohelet’s Symbolic Use of HBL.” Journal of Biblical Literature 117, no. 3 (1998): 437–54.

Sneed, Mark R. “הבל as ‘Worthless’ in Qohelet: A Critique of Michael V. Fox’s ‘Absurd’ Thesis.” Journal of Biblical Literature 136, no. 4 (2017): 879–94. https://doi.org/10.15699/jbl.1364.2017.197928.

Exegetical Tools / Approach

Gericke, Jaco W. “Axiological Assumptions in Qohelet: A Historical-Philosophical Clarification.” Verbum et Ecclesia 33, no. 1 (2012): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i1.515.

Miller, Douglas B. “Qohelet’s Symbolic Use of HBL.” Journal of Biblical Literature 117, no. 3 (1998): 437–54.

Reitinger, Claudia. “Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy from a Philosophical Point of View.” Existential Analysis Existential Analysis (October 1, 2015): 344–57

Cultural, Literal, Historical context

Bartholomew, Craig G., and Ryan O’Dowd. Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011.

Athas, George. “Qohelet in His Context: Ecclesiastes 4,13-16 and the Dating of the Book.” Biblica 100, no. 3 (2019): 353–72. https://doi.org/10.2143/bib.100.3.3286872.

Lombaard, Christo. “Two Approaches to Life in the Second Temple Period: Deuteronomy and Qohelet.” HTS Theological Studies 65, no. 1 (2009). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v65i1.185.

Wenham, Gordon J., ed. Exploring the Old Testament. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Special Studies related to Topic / Theme

Antic, Radiša. “Cain, Abel, Seth, and the Meaning of Human Life as Portrayed in the Books of Genesis and Ecclesiastes.” Andrews University Seminary Studies 44, no. 2 (2006): 203–11.

Contributors, WebMD Editorial. “What Is Logotherapy?” WebMD. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-logotherapy.

Devoe, Daniel. “Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy: The Search For Purpose and Meaning.” Student Pulse 4 (June 1, 2012).

Emlet, Michael R. “Futility, Meaning, and Life under the Sun: Ecclesiastes for Everyday Life.” The Journal of Biblical Counseling 37, no. 1 (2023): 6–21.

Frankl, Viktor E., Harold S. Kushner, and William J. Winslade. Man’s Search for Meaning. Translated by Ilse Lasch. Boston: Beacon Press, 2006.

Gericke, Jaco W. “Axiological Assumptions in Qohelet: A Historical-Philosophical Clarification.” Verbum et Ecclesia 33, no. 1 (2012): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i1.515.

Helsel, Philip Browning. “Warren Zevon’s The Wind and Ecclesiastes: Searching for Meaning at the Threshold of Death.” Journal of Religion and Health 46, no. 2 (June 2007): 205–18.

“Logotherapy.” Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/logotherapy.

Meek, Russell. “Fear God and Enjoy His Gifts: Qohelet’s Edenic Vision of Life.” Criswell Theological Review 14, no. 1 (2016): 23–34.

Onwukeme, Victor. Searching for Meaning with Qohelet. Longford: Victor Onwukeme MSP, 2012.

Reitinger, Claudia. “Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy from a Philosophical Point of View.” Existential Analysis Existential Analysis (October 1, 2015): 344–57.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/tic.v1i1.8456

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

E-ISSN 3062-7745 (Validity Starting Volume 1 No. 1 Juni 2024)

P-ISSN 3062-7753 (Validity Starting Volume 1 No. 1 Juni 2024)

Kaliurang St No.KM, RW.7, Joho, Condongcatur, Depok, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia

Flag Counter

Proceedings of The International Conference on Theology, Religion, Culture, and Humanities is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0