Ecclesiastes 12:1

Ecclesiastes 12:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
• New International Version (NIV)Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—
• English Standard Version (ESV)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
• New King James Version (NKJV)Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”; 2before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears]; 3in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim;

Ecclesiastes 12:1 word by word

וּזְכֹר֙ אֶת־בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָ בִּימֵ֖י בְּחוּרֹתֶ֑יךָ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְמֵ֣י הָֽרָעָ֔ה וְהִגִּ֣יעוּ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמַ֔ר אֵֽין־לִ֥י בָהֶ֖ם חֵֽפֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• now thy Creatorבָּרָאbârâ' · to createH1254
• in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of thy youthבְּחוּרִיםbechûrôth bechûrôth bechûrîym · youthH979
• while the evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• not, nor the yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• draw nighנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• when thou shalt sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I have no pleasureחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:1

• Ecclesiastes 11:10Therefore, remove sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, for childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.
• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
• 1 Samuel 1:28Therefore I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
• 1 Samuel 2:18Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a child dressed in a linen ephod [a sacred item of priestly clothing].
• 1 Samuel 3:19Now Samuel grew; and the Lord was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled].
• 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• 1 Samuel 17:36Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God.”
• 1 Kings 3:6Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great lovingkindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
• 1 Kings 14:13All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam’s family will come to [be placed in] the grave, because in him there was found something good and pleasing toward the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.
• 1 Kings 18:12And as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I come to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. Yet your servant has [reverently] feared the Lord from my youth.
• 2 Chronicles 34:2He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father (forefather) and did not turn aside either to the right or to the left.
• Psalms 22:9Yet You are He who pulled me out of the womb; You made me trust when on my mother’s breasts.
• Psalms 34:11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].
• Psalms 71:17O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous works and miraculous deeds.
• Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me.
• Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Remember thy Creator - בוראיך Boreeycha, thy Creators. The word is most certainly in the plural number in all our common Hebrew Bibles; but it is in the singular number, בוראך Borecha, in one hundred and seventy-six of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and ninety-six of De Rossi's; in many ancient editions; and in all the ancient versions. There is no dependence on the plural form in most of the modern editions; though there are some editions of great worth which…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Remember now - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters. Creator - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, as just previously Ecclesiastes 11:9 fear of God as Judge. Godliness, acquired as a habit in youth, is recommended as the proper compensation for that natural cessation of youthful happiness which makes the days of old age more or less evil; more…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1A description of the infirmities of age. (Eccl. 12:1-7) All is vanity: also a warning of the judgment to come. (Eccl. 12:8-14) Verses 1-7 We should remember our sins against our Creator, repent, and seek forgiveness. We should remember our duties, and set about them, looking to him for grace and strength. This should be done early, while the body is strong, and the spirits active. When a man has the pain of reviewing a misspent life, his not having given…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Remember your Creator: Reverence for God can provide wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) and guidance on what is beneficial in life and pleasing to God at judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). It is better to remember God when young, as wisdom can greatly impact life's outcomes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-14Ec 12:1-14. 1. As Ec 11:9, 10 showed what youths are to shun, so this verse shows what they are to follow. Creator--"Remember" that thou art not thine own, but God's property; for He has created thee (Psa 100:3). Therefore serve Him with thy "all" (Mr 12:30), and with thy best days, not with the dregs of them (Pr 8:17; 22:6; Jr 3:4; La 3:27). The Hebrew is "Creators," plural, implying the plurality of persons, as in Ge 1:26; so Hebrew, "Makers" (Is 54:5)…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:1

• Children
• God
• Old Age
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Dead
• Pleasure
• Young; Men, Young Women

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings