Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 12:5
5when they also are afraid of heights and of dangers on the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry fails to excite— for a man is going to his eternal home, and mourners go about in the street—
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 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, when they also are afraid of heights and of dangers on the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry fails to excite— for a man is going to his eternal home, and mourners go about in the street— 6before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the jug at the cistern is shattered, or the wheel at the well is broken. 7Then the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 12Ecclesiastes 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- 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 42:38But he said, “My son will not go down with you—for his brother is dead and he alone remains. And if harm should happen to him along the way you’re going, you’ll bring my grey hair down to Sheol in grief.”
- Genesis 44:29And if you also take this one away from before me and an accident happens to him, then you’ll bring my grey hair down to the evil of Sheol.’
- Leviticus 19:32“You are to rise up in the presence of the gray-haired and honor the presence of the elderly. So you will fear your God. I am Adonai.
- Job 15:10Both gray-haired and aged are with us, men even older than your father.
- Psalms 71:18So even until I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, till I tell of Your strong arm to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory, found on the path of righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
- Isaiah 46:4Even to your old age I will be the same, until you are gray I will carry you. I have done it; I will bear you; I will carry you; I will deliver you.
- Jeremiah 1:11Moreover, the word of Adonai came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see an almond branch.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your strength, for there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, where you are going.
- Job 17:13If I hope for Sheol as my home, if I make my bed in darkness,
- Job 30:23For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all the living.
- Psalms 49:10Will he live forever— and never see the Pit?
- Hebrews 9:27And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this judgment,
- Genesis 50:3They took 40 days for him, because that is how long embalming takes, and Egypt wept 70 days.
- Jeremiah 9:17“Let them come quickly and lift up a wailing over us so our eyes may run down with tears and our eyelids gush with water.”
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
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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