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:
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Ecclesiastes 12:5

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; 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: 6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto 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

• 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 42:38And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
• Genesis 44:29And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
• Leviticus 19:32Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am Yhwh.
• Job 15:10With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
• Psalms 71:18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
• Proverbs 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
• Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
• Isaiah 46:4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
• Jeremiah 1:11Moreover the word of Yhwh came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
• Job 17:13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
• Job 30:23For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
• Psalms 49:10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
• Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
• Genesis 50:3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
• Jeremiah 9:17Thus saith Yhwh of Armies, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

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