American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13This isthe end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- New International Version (NIV)Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
Context of Ecclesiastes 12:13
11The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. This isthe end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 12Ecclesiastes 12:13 word by word
ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:13
- Ecclesiastes 5:7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
- Genesis 22:12And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.
- Deuteronomy 6:2that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
- Deuteronomy 10:12And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
- Psalms 111:10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that dohis commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
- Psalms 112:1Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
- Psalms 145:19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
- Psalms 147:11Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.
- Proverbs 1:7The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; Butthe foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
- Proverbs 23:28Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.
- Psalms 115:13He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great.
- Proverbs 19:23The fear of Jehovahtendethto life; And hethat hath itshall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
- Luke 1:50And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13After all, the sum of the great business of human life is comprised in this short sentence, on which some millions of books have been already written! Fear God, and Keep His Commandments Know that He Is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Reverence him; pay him adoration. Love him, that you may be happy. Keep his commandments - They are contained in two words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" "And thy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 This passage is properly regarded as the Epilogue of the whole book; a kind of apology for the obscurity of many of its sayings. The passage serves therefore to make the book more intelligible and more acceptable. Here, as in the beginning of the book Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, the Preacher speaks of himself Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 in the third person. He first repeats Ecclesiastes 12:8 the mournful, perplexing theme with which his musings began…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 Solomon repeats his text, VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. These are the words of one that could speak by dear-bought experience of the vanity of the world, which can do nothing to ease men of the burden of sin. As he considered the worth of souls, he gave good heed to what he spake and wrote; words of truth will always be acceptable words. The truths of God are as goads to such as are dull and draw back, and nails to such as are wandering…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14The editor concludes from studying the Teacher's work that we should fear God (see Ecclesiastes 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13). This means we must obey his commands, because everything we do will face judgment (see Ecclesiastes 11:9; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. The grand inference of the whole book. Fear God--The antidote to following creature idols, and "vanities," whether self-righteousness (Ec 7:16, 18), or wicked oppression and other evils (Ec 8:12, 13), or mad mirth (Ec 2:2; 7:2-5), or self-mortifying avarice (Ec 8:13, 17), or youth spent without God (Ec 11:9; 12:1). this is the whole duty of man--literally, "this is the whole man," the full ideal of man, as originally contemplated, realized wholly by…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:13
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries