English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 12:5
5they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—
Ecclesiastes 12:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
- New International Version (NIV)when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.
Context of Ecclesiastes 12:5
3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 12Ecclesiastes 12:5 word by word
גַּ֣ם מִגָּבֹ֤הַּ יִרָ֙אוּ֙ וְחַתְחַתִּ֣ים בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְיָנֵ֤אץ הַשָּׁקֵד֙ וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל הֶֽחָגָ֔ב וְתָפֵ֖ר הָֽאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ הָאָדָם֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית עוֹלָמ֔וֹ וְסָבְב֥וּ בָשּׁ֖וּק הַסֹּפְדִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- they shall be afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- highגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
- and fearsחַתְחַתchathchath · terrorH2849
- in the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- and the almond treeשָׁקֵדshâqêd · almondH8247
- shall flourishנָאַץnâ'ats · to spurnH5006
- and the grasshopperחָגָבchâgâb · locustH2284
- shall be a burdenסָבַלsâbal · to bearH5445
- and desireאֲבִיּוֹנָה'ăbîyônâh · desireH35
- shall failפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
- because manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- goethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- to his longעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- homeבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- and the mournersסָפַדsâphad · to mournH5594
- go aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
- the streetsשׁוּקshûq · streetH7784
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:5
- Genesis 42:38But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol."
- Genesis 44:29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.'
- Leviticus 19:32"You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
- Job 15:10Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.
- Psalms 71:18So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
- Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
- Isaiah 46:4even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
- Jeremiah 1:11And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see an almond branch."
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
- Job 17:13If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness,
- Job 30:23For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.
- Psalms 49:10For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.
- Hebrews 9:27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
- Genesis 50:3Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
- Jeremiah 9:17Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider, and call for the mourning women to come; send for the skillful women to come;
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5When they shall be afraid of that which is high - 10. Being so feeble, they are afraid to trust themselves to ascend steps, stairs, etc., without help. And when they look upwards, their heads turn giddy, and they are ready to fall. 11. Fears shall be in the way - They dare not walk out, lest they should meet some danger, which they have not strength to repel, nor agility to escape. A second childishness has taken place - apprehensions, fears, terrors, and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5High - The powerful and the proud, such persons as an old man in his timidity might shrink from opposing or meeting: or, high ground which old men would avoid ascending. Fears in the way - Compare Proverbs 26:13. The almond tree - The type of old age. Many modern critics translate “The almond shall be despised,” i. e., pleasant food shall no longer be relished. The grasshopper - Rather: “the locust.” The clause means, heaviness and stiffness shall take…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5In the ancient Near East, people knew the caperberry as a love-enhancing food.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. that which is high--The old are afraid of ascending a hill. fears ... in the way--Even on the level highway they are full of fears of falling, &c. almond ... flourish--In the East the hair is mostly dark. The white head of the old among the dark-haired is like an almond tree, with its white blossoms, among the dark trees around [Holden]. The almond tree flowers on a leafless stock in winter (answering to old age, in which all the powers are dormant)…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:5
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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