Ecclesiastes 12:2

Ecclesiastes 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
• New International Version (NIV)before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
• English Standard Version (ESV)before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
• New Living Translation (NLT)Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:2

1Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low.

Ecclesiastes 12:2 word by word

עַ֠ד אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תֶחְשַׁ֤ךְ הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ וְהָא֔וֹר וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ וְהַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֥בוּ הֶעָבִ֖ים אַחַ֥ר הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• While the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• or the lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• or the moonיָרֵחַyârêach · moonH3394
• or the starsכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
• be not darkenedחָשַׁךְchâshak · to darkenH2821
• nor the cloudsעָב‛âb · cloudH5645
• returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:2

• Ecclesiastes 11:7Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;
• Genesis 27:1Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.”
• Genesis 48:10Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
• 1 Samuel 3:2And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,
• 1 Samuel 4:15Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see.
• Psalms 42:7Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
• Psalms 71:20You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
• Psalms 77:16The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened - i.e., in the Spring, prime, and prosperity of life. Nor the clouds return - The infirmities of old age of which Winter is a proper emblem, as spring is of youth, in the former clause of this verse.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2While … not - Or, Before. The darkening of the lights of heaven denotes a time of affliction and sadness. Compare Ezekiel 32:7-8; Job 3:9; Isaiah 5:30. Contrast this representation of old age with 2 Samuel 23:4-5.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Remember your Creator: Reverence for God can provide wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) and guidance on what is beneficial in life and pleasing to God at judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). It is better to remember God when young, as wisdom can greatly impact life's outcomes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Illustrating "the evil days" (Jr 13:16). "Light," "sun," &c., express prosperity; "darkness," pain and calamity (Is 13:10; 30:26). clouds ... after ... rain--After rain sunshine (comfort) might be looked for, but only a brief glimpse of it is given, and the gloomy clouds (pains) return.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:2

• Moon
• Old Age
• Readings, Select
• Stars

In the dictionaries

• Allegory
• Cloud
• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Moon
• Remember
• Whole
• Astronomy

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