Ecclesiastes 12:3

12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, the grinders: or, the grinders fail, because they grind little

KJV

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in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

What does Ecclesiastes 12:3 mean?

Ecclesiastes 12:3 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יוֹם (yôwm), שָׁמַר (shâmar), בַּיִת (bayith). It connects to 1 cross-referenced passage elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

the

dayיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

when

the

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

the

houseבַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

shall

tremble,זוּעַzûwaʻ/zoo'-ah/H2111properly, to shake off, i.e. (figuratively) to agitate (as with fear)

and

the

strongחַיִלchayil/khah'-yil/H2428probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

menאֱנוֹשׁʼĕnôwsh/en-oshe'/H582a man in general (singly or collectively)

shall

bowעָוַתʻâvath/aw-vath'/H5791to wrest

themselves,

and

the

grindersטָחַןṭâchan/taw-khan'/H2912to grind meal; hence, to be aconcubine (that being their employment)

ceaseבָּטֵלbâṭêl/baw-tale'/H988to desist from labor

because

they

are

few,מָעַטmâʻaṭ/maw-at'/H4591properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective)

and

those

that

look

outרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

the

windowsאֲרֻבָּהʼărubbâh/ar-oob-baw'/H699a lattice; (by implication) a window, dovecot (because of the pigeon-holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water)

darkened,חָשַׁךְchâshak/khaw-shak'/H2821to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken

the

grinders:

or,

the

grinders

fail,

because

they

grind

little

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12:3

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 12:3

d thy judgments are right and good, just and kind, to those that are wronged, and therefore to thee I appeal from the unjust and unkind censures of men." It is a small thing to be judged of man's judgment, while he that judges us is the Lord. Or thus: "Thy word, and ways, and thy holy religion, are very good, but the reproaches cast on me will fall on them; therefore, Lord, turn them away; let not religion be wounded through my side." 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Here, 1. David professes the ardent affection he had to the word of God: " I have longed after thy precepts, not only loved them, and delighted in what I have already attained, but I have earnestly desired to know them more and do them better, and am still pressing forward towards perfection." Tastes of the sweetness of God's precepts will but set us a longing after a more intimate acquaintance with them. He appeals to God concerning this passionate desire after his precepts: " Behold, I have thus loved, thus longed; thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I am thus affected." 2. He prays for grace to enable him to answer this profession. "Thou hast wrought in me this languishing desire, put life into me, that I may prosecute it; quicken me in thy righteousness, in thy righteous ways, accord

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Luke 2:28

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Topics

Old Age Readings, Select

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 12:3.

Genesis 17:23

And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

Genesis 17:27

And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

Genesis 18:19

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 19:10

But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

Genesis 19:11

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Genesis 19:4

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

Genesis 24:32

And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

Genesis 6:4

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 12:3 say?

Ecclesiastes 12:3 (King James Version) reads: "In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, the grinders: or, the grinders fail, because they grind little"

Is Ecclesiastes 12:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 12:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 12:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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