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 goads, their collective sayings are like firmly affixed nails. They have been given by one Shepherd. 12Be warned my son of anything in addition to them: There is no end to the making of many books, and excessive study wearies the flesh. A final word, when all has been heard: Fear God and keep His mitzvot! For this applies to all mankind. 14God will bring every deed into judgment, including everything that is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

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 5:7If you see the oppression of the poor or perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the matter. For one authority watches over another authority, and higher ones are over them.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him.
• Genesis 22:12Then He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the young man—do nothing to him at all. For now I know that you are one who fears God—you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.”
• Deuteronomy 6:2so that you might fear Adonai your God, to keep all His statutes and mitzvot that I am commanding you and your son and your son’s son all the days of your life, and so that you may prolong your days.
• Deuteronomy 10:12“So now, O Israel, what does Adonai your God require of you, but to fear Adonai your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
• Psalms 111:10The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom. All who follow His precepts have good understanding. His praise endures forever!
• Psalms 112:1Halleluyah! Happy is the man who fears Adonai, who delights greatly in His mitzvot.
• Psalms 145:19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him. He will hear their cry and save them.
• Psalms 147:11Adonai delights in those who revere Him, in those who trust in His lovingkindness.
• Proverbs 1:7The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• Proverbs 23:28Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
• Psalms 115:13He will bless those who fear Adonai, the small together with the great.
• Proverbs 19:23The fear of Adonai leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied, untouched by harm.
• Luke 1:50And His mercy is from generation to generation to the ones 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