New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 12:5
5and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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—
- 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.
Context of Ecclesiastes 12:5
3when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim, 4and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint, and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets – 6before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern – 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath 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 Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.”
- Genesis 44:29If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.’
- Leviticus 19:32You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder, and fear your God. I am the Lord.
- Job 15:10The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men far older than your father.
- Psalms 71:18Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
- Isaiah 46:4Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you.
- Jeremiah 1:11Later the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.
- Job 17:13If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
- Job 30:23I know that you are bringing me to death, to the meeting place for all the living.
- Psalms 49:10Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
- Hebrews 9:27And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
- Genesis 50:3They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
- Jeremiah 9:17The Lord who rules over all told me to say to this people, “Take note of what I say. Call for the women who mourn for the dead! Summon those who are the most skilled at it!”
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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