Ecclesiastes 12:10

Ecclesiastes 12:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
• New International Version (NIV)The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:10

8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!” 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth. 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

Ecclesiastes 12:10 word by word

בִּקֵּ֣שׁ קֹהֶ֔לֶת לִמְצֹ֖א דִּבְרֵי־חֵ֑פֶץ וְכָת֥וּב יֹ֖שֶׁר דִּבְרֵ֥י אֱמֶֽת׃Read the interlinear

• The Teacherקֹהֶ֫לֶתqôheleth · preacherH6953
• searchedבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• to findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• delightfulחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656
• sayingsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• and to recordכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• accurateיֹ֫שֶׁרyôsher · uprightnessH3476
• of truthאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: trueH571

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:10

• Ecclesiastes 1:1These are the words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
• Proverbs 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply— and how good is a timely word!
• Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
• Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
• 1 Timothy 1:15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
• Proverbs 1:1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
• Proverbs 8:6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
• Proverbs 22:17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
• Luke 1:1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
• John 3:11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
• Colossians 1:5the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10He sought to find out acceptable words - חפץ דברי dibrey chephets, words of desire, words of will; the best, the most suitable words; those which the people could best understand. But these words were not such as might merely please the people; they were words of truth; such as came from God, and might lead them to him.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. 9-14This final note by the editor (see “Author and Recipients” in the Book Introduction) shows respect for the Teacher. It urges readers to apply the Teacher's lessons and shares the editor’s conclusion from studying the Teacher (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. A summary of the first part. Vanity, &c.--Resumption of the sentiment with which the book began (Ec 1:2; 1Jo 2:17).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:10

• Investigation
• Speaking
• Word of God
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Accept; Acceptable; Acceptation
• Dead
• righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness

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