Ecclesiastes 12:7-14

7 then the ¹dust will return to the earth as it was, and the ²spirit will return to ³God who gave it.

8 "⁴Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"

Purpose of the Preacher

9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged ⁵many proverbs.

10 The Preacher sought to find ⁶delightful words and to write ⁷words of truth correctly.

11 The ⁸words of wise men are like ⁹goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven ¹⁰nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of ¹¹many books is endless *, and excessive ¹²devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion *, when all has been heard, is: ¹³fear God and ¹⁴keep His commandments, because this applies to ¹⁵every person.

14 For ¹⁶God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Read Chapter Compare

Images for Ecclesiastes 12:7-14

Ecclesiastes 12:7-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 12

This chapter begins with advice to young men, which is continued from the preceding; and particularly to remember their Creator in the days of their youth; enforced from the consideration of the troubles and inconveniences of old age, Ec 12:1; which, in an allegorical way, is beautifully described, Ec 12:2-6; and from the certainty of death, when it would be too late, Ec 12:7. And then the wise man returns to his first proposition, and which he kept in view all along, that all is vanity in youth or old age, Ec 12:8; and recommends the reading of this book, from the diligence, pains and labour, he used in composing it; from the sententious matter in it; from the agreeable, acceptable, and well chosen words, in which he had expressed it; and from the wisdom, uprightness, truth, efficacy, and authority of the doctrines of it, Ec 12:9-11; and from its preference to other books, which were wearisome both to author and reader, Ec 12:12. And it is concluded with the scope and design, the sum and substance of the whole of it, reducible to these two heads; the fear of God, and obedience to him, Ec 12:13; and which are urged from the consideration of a future judgment, into which all things shall be brought, Ec 12:14.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 16

1. Genesis 3:19; Job 34:15; Psalms 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:20
2. Job 34:14; Ecclesiastes 3:21; Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59
3. Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Isaiah 57:16; Zechariah 12:1
4. Ecclesiastes 1:2
5. 1 Kings 4:32
6. Proverbs 10:32
7. Proverbs 22:20, 21
8. Proverbs 1:6; Proverbs 22:17; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Ecclesiastes 10:12
9. Acts 2:37
10. Ezra 9:8; Isaiah 22:23
11. 1 Kings 4:32
12. Ecclesiastes 1:18
13. Ecclesiastes 3:14; Ecclesiastes 5:7; Ecclesiastes 7:18; Ecclesiastes 8:12
14. Deuteronomy 4:2; Ecclesiastes 8:5
15. Deuteronomy 10:12; Micah 6:8
16. Ecclesiastes 3:17; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 10:26; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5

Footnotes 3

[a]. Or "breath"
[b]. Lit "planted"
[c]. Lit "making"