Ecclesiastes 12:5

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:
• 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.
• 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

3when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 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. 6Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, 7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 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 said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
• Genesis 44:29If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’
• Leviticus 19:32“ ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
• Job 15:10The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father.
• Psalms 71:18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
• Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
• Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
• Isaiah 46:4Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
• Jeremiah 1:11The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
• Job 17:13If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,
• Job 30:23I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
• Psalms 49:10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
• Hebrews 9:27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
• Genesis 50:3taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
• Jeremiah 9:17This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Consider now! Call for the wailing women to come; send for the most skillful of them.

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

• Death
• Grasshopper
• Mourning
• Old Age
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Allegory
• Almond
• Conclusion
• Creator
• Grasshopper
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Burial

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