Ecclesiastes 12:5

Ecclesiastes 12:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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:
• New International Version (NIV)when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
• English Standard Version (ESV)they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
• New King James Version (NKJV)Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:5

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; 4when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places. 6Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 word by word

גַּ֣ם מִגָּבֹ֤הַּ יִרָ֙אוּ֙ וְחַתְחַתִּ֣ים בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְיָנֵ֤אץ הַשָּׁקֵד֙ וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל הֶֽחָגָ֔ב וְתָפֵ֖ר הָֽאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ הָאָדָם֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית עוֹלָמ֔וֹ וְסָבְב֥וּ בָשּׁ֖וּק הַסֹּפְדִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• they shall be afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• highגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
• and fearsחַתְחַתchathchath · terrorH2849
• in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• and the almond treeשָׁקֵדshâqêd · almondH8247
• shall flourishנָאַץnâ'ats · to spurnH5006
• and the grasshopperחָגָבchâgâb · locustH2284
• shall be a burdenסָבַלsâbal · to bearH5445
• and desireאֲבִיּוֹנָה'ăbîyônâh · desireH35
• shall failפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
• because manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• goethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to his longעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
• homeבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• and the mournersסָפַדsâphad · to mournH5594
• go aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
• the streetsשׁוּקshûq · streetH7784

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:5

• Genesis 42:38But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down [to Egypt] with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left [of Rachel’s children]. If any harm or accident should happen to him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in sorrow.”
• Genesis 44:29If you take this one also from me, and harm or an accident happens to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
• Leviticus 19:32‘You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the aged, and you shall fear your God [with profound reverence]; I am the Lord.
• Job 15:10Among us are both the gray-haired and the aged, Older than your father.
• Psalms 71:18And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.
• Proverbs 16:31The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.
• Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their [physical] strength, And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].
• Isaiah 46:4Even to your old age I am He, And even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.
• Jeremiah 1:11The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see the branch of an almond tree.”
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.
• Job 17:13But if I look to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) as my home, If I make my bed in the darkness,
• Job 30:23For I know that You will bring me to death And to the house of meeting [appointed] for all the living.
• Psalms 49:10For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others.
• Hebrews 9:27And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment,
• Genesis 50:3Now forty days were required for this, for that is the customary number of days [of preparation] required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept and grieved for him [in public mourning as they would for royalty] for seventy days.
• Jeremiah 9:17Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider and call for the mourning women to come; Send for the wailing women to come.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5When they shall be afraid of that which is high - 10. Being so feeble, they are afraid to trust themselves to ascend steps, stairs, etc., without help. And when they look upwards, their heads turn giddy, and they are ready to fall. 11. Fears shall be in the way - They dare not walk out, lest they should meet some danger, which they have not strength to repel, nor agility to escape. A second childishness has taken place - apprehensions, fears, terrors, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5High - The powerful and the proud, such persons as an old man in his timidity might shrink from opposing or meeting: or, high ground which old men would avoid ascending. Fears … in the way - Compare Proverbs 26:13. The almond tree - The type of old age. Many modern critics translate “The almond shall be despised,” i. e., pleasant food shall no longer be relished. The grasshopper - Rather: “the locust.” The clause means, heaviness and stiffness shall take…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5In the ancient Near East, people knew the caperberry as a love-enhancing food.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. that which is high--The old are afraid of ascending a hill. fears ... in the way--Even on the level highway they are full of fears of falling, &c. almond ... flourish--In the East the hair is mostly dark. The white head of the old among the dark-haired is like an almond tree, with its white blossoms, among the dark trees around [Holden]. The almond tree flowers on a leafless stock in winter (answering to old age, in which all the powers are dormant)…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:5

• Death
• Grasshopper
• Mourning
• Old Age
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Allegory
• Almond
• Conclusion
• Creator
• Grasshopper
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Burial

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