Bible/Ecclesiastes/12

Ecclesiastes 12:4

12:3 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
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;

KJV

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and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

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;

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 music shall be brought low;

12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

What does Ecclesiastes 12:4 mean?

Ecclesiastes 12:4 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include דֶּלֶת (deleth), סָגַר (çâgar), שׁוּק (shûwq). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
the
doorsדֶּלֶתdeleth/deh'-leth/H1817something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor
shall
be
shutסָגַרçâgar/saw-gar'/H5462to shut up; figuratively, to surrender
in
the
streets,שׁוּקshûwq/shook/H7784a street (as run over)
when
the
soundקוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
of
the
grindingטַחֲנָהṭachănâh/takh-an-aw'/H2913a hand mill; hence (figuratively) chewing
is
low,שָׁפָלshâphâl/shaw-fawl'/H8217depressed, literally or figuratively
and
he
shall
rise
upקוּםqûwm/koom/H6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
at
the
voiceקוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
of
the
bird,צִפּוֹרtsippôwr/tsip-pore'/H6833a little bird (as hopping)
and
all
the
daughtersבַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
of
musickשִׁירshîyr/sheer/H7892a song; abstractly, singing
shall
be
brought
low;שָׁחַחshâchach/shaw-khakh'/H7817to sink or depress (reflexive or causative)

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12:4

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 12:4
ing to thy righteous promise." Where God has wrought to will he will work to do, and where he has wrought to desire he will satisfy the desire. 6. VAU. 41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord , even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. Here is, 1. David's prayer for the salvation of the Lord. "Lord, thou art my Saviour; I am miserable in myself, and thou only canst make me happy; let thy salvation come to me. Hasten temporal salvation to me from my present distresses, and hasten me to the eternal salvation, by giving me the necessary qualifications for it and the comfortable pledges and foretastes of it." 2. David's dependence upon the grace and promise of God for that salvation. These are the two pillars on which our hope is built, and they will not fail us:—(1.) The grace of God: Let thy mercies come, even thy salvation. Our salvation must be attributed purely to

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2 Samuel 7:12

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 16:7

And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: bloody: Heb. man of blood

2 Samuel 16:8

The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. behold: Heb. behold thee in thy evil

2 Samuel 19:18

And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; what: Heb. the good in his eyes

1 Chronicles 28:3

But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. blood: Heb. bloods

Ecclesiastes 3:2

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; to be: Heb. to bear

Matthew 27:40

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Matthew 27:63

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Topics

Old AgeReadings, Select

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 12:4.

1 Samuel 23:7

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

Genesis 19:10

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

Genesis 19:6

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

Genesis 27:43

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

Judges 3:23

Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.

Leviticus 13:21

But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

Leviticus 13:26

But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 12:4 say?

Ecclesiastes 12:4 (King James Version) reads: "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;"

Is Ecclesiastes 12:4 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 12:4 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 12:4, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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