Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 12:1
1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: before the days of misery come, and years draw near when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”—
Ecclesiastes 12:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Remember 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;
- New International Version (NIV)Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—
- English Standard Version (ESV)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
- New King James Version (NKJV)Remember 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”:
Context of Ecclesiastes 12:1
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: before the days of misery come, and years draw near when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”— 2before the sun and light and moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds dissipate after the rain, 3in the day the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when grinders stop because they are few, and those peering out windows grow dim,
Read all of Ecclesiastes 12Ecclesiastes 12:1 word by word
וּזְכֹר֙ אֶת־בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָ בִּימֵ֖י בְּחוּרֹתֶ֑יךָ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְמֵ֣י הָֽרָעָ֔ה וְהִגִּ֣יעוּ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמַ֔ר אֵֽין־לִ֥י בָהֶ֖ם חֵֽפֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
- now thy Creatorבָּרָאbârâ' · to createH1254
- in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of thy youthבְּחוּרִיםbechûrôth bechûrôth bechûrîym · youthH979
- while the evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- not, nor the yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- draw nighנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
- when thou shalt sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I have no pleasureחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12:1
- Ecclesiastes 11:10So banish anxiety from your heart and cast off distress from your body, for youth and prime of life are fleeting.
- Genesis 39:2But Adonai was with Joseph. So he became a successful man in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
- 1 Samuel 1:28So I in turn dedicate him to Adonai—as long as he lives he is dedicated to Adonai.” Then he bowed in worship there before Adonai.
- 1 Samuel 2:18But Samuel was ministering before Adonai, as a boy girded with a linen ephod.
- 1 Samuel 3:19So Samuel grew up and Adonai was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But Adonai said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have already refused him. For He does not see a man as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 17:36Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear, so this uncircumcised Philistine will become like one of them—since he has defied the ranks of the living God.”
- 1 Kings 3:6Solomon said: “You have shown my father Your servant David great lovingkindness, as he walked before You in truth, righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You. Indeed, You have kept this great lovingkindness for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
- 1 Kings 14:13All Israel will lament over him and bury him, for it is only him of Jeroboam’s house who will be buried, because in him alone, of all Jeroboam’s house, something good was found toward Adonai, the God of Israel.
- 1 Kings 18:12But as soon as I leave you, the Ruach Adonai may carry you off where I wouldn’t know. Then, when I come and tell Ahab and he can’t find you, he’ll kill me! Now I, your servant, have feared Adonai since my youth.
- 2 Chronicles 34:2He did right in the eyes of Adonai, and walked in the ways of his father David. He did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
- Psalms 22:9“Rely on Adonai! Let Him deliver him! Let Him rescue him— since he delights in Him!”
- Psalms 34:11Young lions may lack, and go hungry, but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing.
- Psalms 71:17God, You taught me from my youth, and I still keep declaring Your wonders.
- Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me. Those who earnestly seek me find me.
- Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not turn from it.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Remember thy Creator - בוראיך Boreeycha, thy Creators. The word is most certainly in the plural number in all our common Hebrew Bibles; but it is in the singular number, בוראך Borecha, in one hundred and seventy-six of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and ninety-six of De Rossi's; in many ancient editions; and in all the ancient versions. There is no dependence on the plural form in most of the modern editions; though there are some editions of great worth which…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Remember now - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters. Creator - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, as just previously Ecclesiastes 11:9 fear of God as Judge. Godliness, acquired as a habit in youth, is recommended as the proper compensation for that natural cessation of youthful happiness which makes the days of old age more or less evil; more…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1A description of the infirmities of age. (Eccl. 12:1-7) All is vanity: also a warning of the judgment to come. (Eccl. 12:8-14) Verses 1-7 We should remember our sins against our Creator, repent, and seek forgiveness. We should remember our duties, and set about them, looking to him for grace and strength. This should be done early, while the body is strong, and the spirits active. When a man has the pain of reviewing a misspent life, his not having given…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. 1-14Ec 12:1-14. 1. As Ec 11:9, 10 showed what youths are to shun, so this verse shows what they are to follow. Creator--"Remember" that thou art not thine own, but God's property; for He has created thee (Psa 100:3). Therefore serve Him with thy "all" (Mr 12:30), and with thy best days, not with the dregs of them (Pr 8:17; 22:6; Jr 3:4; La 3:27). The Hebrew is "Creators," plural, implying the plurality of persons, as in Ge 1:26; so Hebrew, "Makers" (Is 54:5)…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 12:1
In the dictionaries
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
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