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.
• New International Version (NIV)The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by 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.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:11

9Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. 10The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. 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. 12But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. 13That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

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 23:29Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?
• Matthew 3:7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
• Acts 2:37Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
• 2 Corinthians 10:4We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
• John 3:10Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?
• Genesis 49:24But his bow remained taut, and his arms were strengthened by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
• Psalms 23:1The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
• Psalms 80:1Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory
• Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
• Ezekiel 34:23And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them.
• John 10:14“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
• Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
• 1 Peter 5:4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

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