Ecclesiastes 12:11

Ecclesiastes 12:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:11

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. 12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13Now 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.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 word by word

דִּבְרֵ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ כַּדָּ֣רְבֹנ֔וֹת וּֽכְמַשְׂמְר֥וֹת נְטוּעִ֖ים בַּעֲלֵ֣י אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת נִתְּנ֖וּ מֵרֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• as goadsדָּֽרְבֹנָהdorbôn · goadH1861
• and as nailsמַשְׂמְרָהmaώmerâh · nailH4930
• fastenedנָטַעnâţa‛ · to plantH5193
• the mastersבַּעַלba‛al · master: [master of]H1167
• of assembliesאֲסֻפָּה'ăsûppâh · collectionH627
• are givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• from oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• shepherdרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:11

• Jeremiah 23:29“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
• Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
• Acts 2:37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
• 2 Corinthians 10:4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
• John 3:10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
• Genesis 49:24But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
• Psalms 23:1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
• Psalms 80:1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
• Isaiah 40:11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
• Ezekiel 34:23I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
• John 10:14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
• Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
• 1 Peter 5:4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The words of the wise - Doctrines of faith, illustrated by suitable language, are as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, אספות בעלי baaley asuphoth, the masters of collections, those who had made the best collections of this kind, the matter of which was of the most excellent nature; every saying sinking as deeply into the mind, by the force of the truth contained in it, as a nail well pointed does into a board, when impelled by the hammer's…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. 11goads...firmly embedded nails: Sometimes, painful lessons guide us to paths we prefer to avoid. a single Shepherd: This word might refer to God as the shepherd of his people (Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11). The sentence could also compare the wise person's words to a shepherd's work in caring for his flock.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. A summary of the first part. Vanity, &c.--Resumption of the sentiment with which the book began (Ec 1:2; 1Jo 2:17).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:11

• Goad
• Investigation
• Speaking
• Wisdom
• Word of God
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Nail
• Remember
• Whole
• Assemblies, Masters of
• Dead
• Education

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