Ecclesiastes 12:13

12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. study: or, reading

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Let: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is

KJV

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This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

What does Ecclesiastes 12:13 mean?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), סוֹף (çôwph), דָּבָר (dâbâr). It connects to 10 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Let

hearשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

the

conclusionסוֹףçôwph/sofe/H5490a termination

the

whole

matter:דָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

Fearיָרֵאyârêʼ/yaw-ray'/H3372to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten

God,אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

and

keepשָׁמַרshâmar/shaw-mar'/H8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

his

commandments:מִצְוָהmitsvâh/mits-vaw'/H4687a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)

for

this

the

whole

duty

man.אָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

Let:

or,

The

end

the

matter,

even

all

that

hath

been

heard,

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12:13

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 12:13

e >Exod. xxxiii. 12 . 2. That God, who had given him the promise in the word, had by his grace wrought in him a hope in that promise and enabled him to depend upon it, and had raised his expectations of great things from it. Has God kindled in us desires towards spiritual blessings more than towards any temporal good things, and will he not be so kind as to satisfy those desires? Has he filled us with hopes of those blessings, and will he not be so just as to accomplish these hopes? He that did by his Spirit work faith in us will, according to our faith, work for us, and will not disappoint us. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Here is David's experience of benefit by the word. 1. As a means of his sanctification: " Thy word has quickened me. It made me alive when I was dead in sin; it has many a time made me lively when I was dead in duty; it has quickened me to that which is good when I was backward and averse to it, and it has quickened me in that which is good when I was cold and indifferent." 2. Therefore as a means of his consolation when he was in affliction and needed something to support him: "Because thy word has quickened me at other times, it has comforted me then." The word of God has much in it that speaks comfort in affliction; but those only may apply it to themselves who have experienced in some measure the quickening power of the word. If through grace it make us holy, there is enough in it to make us easy, in all conditions, under all e

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Job 23:11

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Isaiah 38:3

And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. sore: Heb. with great weeping

Isaiah 42:4

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. discouraged: Heb. broken

Jeremiah 20:7

O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. was deceived: or, was enticed

Luke 16:14

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Luke 16:15

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 23:35

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Acts 20:23

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. abide me: or, wait for me

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Topics

Investigation Obedience to God

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Genesis 2:15

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. the man: or, Adam

Genesis 26:5

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Exodus 15:26

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Exodus 16:28

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Exodus 20:6

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 12:13 say?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (King James Version) reads: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Let: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is"

Is Ecclesiastes 12:13 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 12:13, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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