Ecclesiastes 12:13

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:13

11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 word by word

ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let us hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• the conclusionסוֹףsôph · endH5490
• of the whole matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• Fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• his commandmentsמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Ecclesiastes 5:7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
• Genesis 22:12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
• Deuteronomy 6:2that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
• Deuteronomy 10:12"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
• Psalms 111:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
• Psalms 145:19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
• Psalms 147:11but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
• Proverbs 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Proverbs 23:28She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
• Psalms 115:13he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.
• Proverbs 19:23The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
• Luke 1:50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

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

• Fear of God
• Investigation
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Dead

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