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

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”— before 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, 4when doors are shut in the street and the sound of the mill fades, when one arises at the chirp of a bird and all their songs grow faint,

Ecclesiastes 12:2 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• 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 11:7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
• Genesis 27:1Now it was when Isaac grew old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he said to him.
• Genesis 48:10Now Israel’s eyes had grown heavy with old age—he could not see. So he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and hugged them.
• 1 Samuel 3:2One day, Eli was lying down in his place—now his eyes had grown dim so that he could not see,
• 1 Samuel 4:15Now Eli was 98 years old, and his eyes were fixed in a blind stare.
• Psalms 42:7My God, my soul is downcast within me! Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and from the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mitzar.
• Psalms 71:20You made me see many troubles and evils —You will revive me again— from the depths of the earth You will bring me up again.
• Psalms 77:16With your arm You redeemed Your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

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