Ecclesiastes 12:13

Ecclesiastes 12:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• New International Version (NIV)Now 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:13

11The 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. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 word by word

ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֹתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let us hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• the conclusionסוֹףsôph · endH5490
• of the whole matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• Fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• his commandmentsמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Ecclesiastes 5:7Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.
• Genesis 22:12“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
• Deuteronomy 6:2and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life.
• Deuteronomy 10:12“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.
• Psalms 111:10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.
• Psalms 145:19He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
• Psalms 147:11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
• Proverbs 1:7Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• Proverbs 23:28She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.
• Psalms 115:13He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly.
• Proverbs 19:23Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
• Luke 1:50He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13After all, the sum of the great business of human life is comprised in this short sentence, on which some millions of books have been already written! Fear God, and Keep His Commandments Know that He Is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Reverence him; pay him adoration. Love him, that you may be happy. Keep his commandments - They are contained in two words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" "And thy…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. 13-14The editor concludes from studying the Teacher's work that we should fear God (see Ecclesiastes 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13). This means we must obey his commands, because everything we do will face judgment (see Ecclesiastes 11:9; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. The grand inference of the whole book. Fear God--The antidote to following creature idols, and "vanities," whether self-righteousness (Ec 7:16, 18), or wicked oppression and other evils (Ec 8:12, 13), or mad mirth (Ec 2:2; 7:2-5), or self-mortifying avarice (Ec 8:13, 17), or youth spent without God (Ec 11:9; 12:1). this is the whole duty of man--literally, "this is the whole man," the full ideal of man, as originally contemplated, realized wholly by…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:13

• Fear of God
• Investigation
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Conclusion
• Creator
• Heed
• Judgment
• Remember
• Whole
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Dead

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