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 King James Version (NKJV)While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:2

1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

Ecclesiastes 12:2 word by word

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

• 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 a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
• Genesis 27:1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
• Genesis 48:10Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
• 1 Samuel 3:2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
• 1 Samuel 4:15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
• Psalms 42:7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
• Psalms 71:20Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
• Psalms 77:16The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

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