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 to serve God while you are young. He is the one who made you. Your life will have many troubles in the future. During those years, you will say, ‘I do not enjoy my life any more.’ 2When you are old, the light from the sun will not seem to be bright. You will not see the moon or the stars. There will always be dark clouds after the rain. 3Your arms that have kept you safe will shake. Your legs will become weak. You will have only a few teeth to eat with. Your eyes will no longer see very well.

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 11:10Do not worry about things. Do not let your body cause you to have pain. You will not be young and strong for very long. We all become old too quickly.
• Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so that good things happened to him. Joseph lived in the house of Potiphar, his Egyptian master.
• 1 Samuel 1:28Now I will give this child to serve the Lord. He will be the Lord's servant for his whole life.’ Then Elkanah's family worshipped the Lord there.
• 1 Samuel 2:18But Samuel served the Lord faithfully, as a young boy. He wore a linen ephod.
• 1 Samuel 3:19The Lord was with Samuel while he continued to grow up. So every message that Samuel spoke became true.
• 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at how handsome or how tall Eliab is. I have not chosen him. The Lord does not look at people in the way that people do. People look at the face and body of a person. But the Lord sees what they are like inside.’
• 1 Samuel 17:36I have killed lions and bears like that. I will do the same to this unclean Philistine. He has insulted the army of our God, who lives for ever.
• 1 Kings 3:6Solomon answered, ‘You always showed your faithful love to your servant, my father David. He served you faithfully as a good, honest man. You have continued to show your faithful love to him even now. You have given him a son to rule as king on his throne.
• 1 Kings 14:13All Israel will cry because of his death and they will bury him. He is the only person from Jeroboam's family that they will bury properly. He is the only one among Jeroboam's descendants who has pleased the Lord, Israel's God.
• 1 Kings 18:12When I leave you, I do not know where the Lord's Spirit will take you. I may not be able to find you again. Then if I tell Ahab that I have seen you, he still will not find you. So he will kill me. But I have served the Lord faithfully since I was a young man.
• 2 Chronicles 34:2Josiah did things that the Lord said were right. He lived in the good ways of his ancestor, King David. He did not turn away from the Lord's teaching in any way.
• Psalms 22:9Lord, you brought me safely to birth. You took care of me at my mother's breasts.
• Psalms 34:11Children, come and listen to me! I will teach you how to respect the Lord.
• Psalms 71:17God, you have taught me since I was young. I still tell people about the great things that you have done.
• Proverbs 8:17I love those people who love me. Whoever looks for me will find me.
• Proverbs 22:6If you teach children the right way to live, they will not forget it when they are older.

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