Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 12:1
1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;
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
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2before the sun and the light are darkened, and the moon and the stars, and the clouds return after the rain; 3on the day when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the women who grind grain cease because they are few, and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,
Read all of Ecclesiastes 12Ecclesiastes 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 11:10Remove sorrow from your heart, and put away pain from your flesh, because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
- Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
- 1 Samuel 1:28I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he worshiped the Lord there.
- 1 Samuel 2:18Samuel served in the Lord’s presence—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.
- 1 Samuel 3:19Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 17:36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
- 1 Kings 3:6And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
- 1 Kings 14:13All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He alone out of Jeroboam’s house will be given a proper burial because out of the house of Jeroboam something favorable to the Lord God of Israel was found in him.
- 1 Kings 18:12But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth.
- 2 Chronicles 34:2He did what was right in the Lord’s sight and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or the left.
- Psalms 22:9It was you who brought me out of the womb, making me secure at my mother’s breast.
- Psalms 34:11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Psalms 71:17God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works.
- Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.
- Proverbs 22:6Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows 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
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
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