14 For God H430 shall bring H935 every work H4639 into judgment, H4941 with every secret thing, H5956 whether it be good, H2896 or whether it be evil. H7451
But G1161 why G5101 dost G2919 thou G4771 judge G2919 thy G4675 brother? G80 or G2228 G2532 why G5101 dost G1848 thou G4771 set at nought G1848 thy G4675 brother? G80 for G1063 we shall G3936 all G3956 stand before G3936 the judgment seat G968 of Christ. G5547 For G1063 it is written, G1125 As I G1473 live, G2198 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 G3754 every G3956 knee G1119 shall bow G2578 to me, G1698 and G2532 every G3956 tongue G1100 shall confess G1843 to God. G2316 So G3767 then G686 every one G1538 of us G2257 shall give G1325 account G3056 of G4012 himself G1438 to God. G2316
And G3303 G3767 the times G5550 of this ignorance G52 God G2316 winked at; G5237 but now G3569 commandeth G3853 all G3956 men G444 every where G3837 to repent: G3340 Because G1360 he hath appointed G2476 a day, G2250 in G1722 the which G3739 he will G3195 judge G2919 the world G3625 in G1722 righteousness G1343 by G1722 that man G435 whom G3739 he hath ordained; G3724 whereof he hath given G3930 assurance G4102 unto all G3956 men, in that he hath raised G450 him G846 from G1537 the dead. G3498
When G1161 G3752 the Son G5207 of man G444 shall come G2064 in G1722 his G846 glory, G1391 and G2532 all G3956 the holy G40 angels G32 with G3326 him, G846 then G5119 shall he sit G2523 upon G1909 the throne G2362 of his G846 glory: G1391 And G2532 before G1715 him G846 shall be gathered G4863 all G3956 nations: G1484 and G2532 he shall separate G873 them G846 one G240 from G575 another, G240 as G5618 a shepherd G4166 divideth G873 his sheep G4263 from G575 the goats: G2056 And G2532 he shall set G2476 G3303 the sheep G4263 on G1537 his G846 right hand, G1188 but G1161 the goats G2055 on G1537 the left. G2176 Then G5119 shall the King G935 say G2046 unto them on G1537 his G846 right hand, G1188 Come, G1205 ye blessed G2127 of my G3450 Father, G3962 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 prepared G2090 for you G5213 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world: G2889 For G1063 I was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 ye gave G1325 me G3427 meat: G5315 I was thirsty, G1372 and G2532 ye gave G4222 me G3165 drink: G4222 I was G2252 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 ye took G4863 me G3165 in: G4863 Naked, G1131 and G2532 ye clothed G4016 me: G3165 I was sick, G770 and G2532 ye visited G1980 me: G3165 I was G2252 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 ye came G2064 unto G4314 me. G3165 Then G5119 shall the righteous G1342 answer G611 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 when G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 an hungred, G3983 and G2532 fed G5142 thee? or G2228 thirsty, G1372 and G2532 gave thee drink? G4222 G1161 When G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 took thee in? G4863 or G2228 naked, G1131 and G2532 clothed G4016 thee? G1161 Or when G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 sick, G772 or G2228 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 came G2064 unto G4314 thee? G4571 And G2532 the King G935 shall answer G611 and say G2046 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Inasmuch G1909 as G3745 ye have done G4160 it unto one G1520 of the least G1646 of these G5130 my G3450 brethren, G80 ye have done G4160 it unto me. G1698 Then G5119 shall he say G2046 also G2532 unto them on G1537 the left hand, G2176 Depart G4198 from G575 me, G1700 ye cursed, G2672 into G1519 everlasting G166 fire, G4442 prepared G2090 for the devil G1228 and G2532 his G846 angels: G32 For G1063 I was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 ye gave G1325 me G3427 no G3756 meat: G5315 I was thirsty, G1372 and G2532 ye gave G4222 me G3165 no G3756 drink: G4222 I was G2252 a stranger, G3581 and G2532 ye took G4863 me G3165 not G3756 in: G4863 naked, G1131 and G2532 ye clothed G4016 me G3165 not: G3756 sick, G772 and G2532 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 ye visited G1980 me G3165 not. G3756 Then G5119 shall they G846 also G2532 answer G611 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 when G4219 saw we G1492 thee G4571 an hungred, G3983 or G2228 athirst, G1372 or G2228 a stranger, G3581 or G2228 naked, G1131 or G2228 sick, G772 or G2228 in G1722 prison, G5438 and G2532 did G1247 not G3756 minister G1247 unto thee? G4671 Then G5119 shall he answer G611 them, G846 saying, G3004 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Inasmuch G1909 as G3745 ye did G4160 it not G3756 to one G1520 of the least G1646 of these, G5130 ye did G4160 it not G3761 to me. G1698 And G2532 these G3778 shall go away G565 into G1519 everlasting G166 punishment: G2851 but G1161 the righteous G1342 into G1519 life G2222 eternal. G166
In G1722 the mean time, G3739 when there were gathered together G1996 an innumerable multitude G3461 of people, G3793 insomuch that G5620 they trode G2662 one upon another, G240 he began G756 to say G3004 unto G4314 his G846 disciples G3101 first of all, G4412 Beware G4337 ye G1438 of G575 the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees, G5330 which G3748 is G2076 hypocrisy. G5272 For G1161 there is G2076 nothing G3762 covered, G4780 that G3739 shall G601 not G3756 be revealed; G601 neither G2532 hid, G2927 that G3739 shall G1097 not G3756 be known. G1097
And G2532 I saw G1492 a great G3173 white G3022 throne, G2362 and G2532 him that sat G2521 on G1909 it, G846 from G575 whose G3739 face G4383 the earth G1093 and G2532 the heaven G3772 fled away; G5343 and G2532 there was found G2147 no G3756 place G5117 for them. G846 And G2532 I saw G1492 the dead, G3498 small G3398 and G2532 great, G3173 stand G2476 before G1799 God; G2316 and G2532 the books G975 were opened: G455 and G2532 another G243 book G975 was opened, G455 which G3739 is G2076 the book of life: G2222 and G2532 the dead G3498 were judged G2919 out of G1537 those things which were written G1125 in G1722 the books, G975 according to G2596 their G846 works. G2041 And G2532 the sea G2281 gave up G1325 the dead G3498 which G3588 were in G1722 it; G846 and G2532 death G2288 and G2532 hell G86 delivered up G1325 the dead G3498 which G3588 were in G1722 them: G846 and G2532 they were judged G2919 every man G1538 according to G2596 their G846 works. G2041 And G2532 death G2288 and G2532 hell G86 were cast G906 into G1519 the lake G3041 of fire. G4442 This G3778 is G2076 the second G1208 death. G2288 And G2532 whosoever G1536 was G2147 not G3756 found G2147 written G1125 in G1722 the book G976 of life G2222 was cast G906 into G1519 the lake G3041 of fire. G4442
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Ec 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 (Ps 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; Jer 3:4; La 3:27). The Hebrew is "Creators," plural, implying the plurality of persons, as in Ge 1:26; so Hebrew, "Makers" (Isa 54:5).
while … not—that is, before that (Pr 8:26) the evil days come; namely, calamity and old age, when one can no longer serve God, as in youth (Ec 11:2, 8).
no pleasure—of a sensual kind (2Sa 19:35; Ps 90:10). Pleasure in God continues to the godly old (Isa 46:4).
2. Illustrating "the evil days" (Jer 13:16). "Light," "sun," &c., express prosperity; "darkness," pain and calamity (Isa 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.
3. keepers of the house—namely, the hands and arms which protected the body, as guards do a palace (Ge 49:24; Job 4:19; 2Co 5:1), are now palsied.
strong men … bow—(Jud 16:25, 30). Like supporting pillars, the feet and knees (So 5:15); the strongest members (Ps 147:10).
grinders—the molar teeth.
cease—are idle.
those that look out of the windows—the eyes; the powers of vision, looking out from beneath the eyelids, which open and shut like the casement of a window.
4. doors—the lips, which are closely shut together as doors, by old men in eating, for, if they did not do so, the food would drop out (Job 41:14; Ps 141:3; Mic 7:5).
in the streets—that is, toward the street, "the outer doors" [Maurer and Weiss].
sound of … grinding—The teeth being almost gone, and the lips "shut" in eating, the sound of mastication is scarcely heard.
the bird—the cock. In the East all mostly rise with the dawn. But the old are glad to rise from their sleepless couch, or painful slumbers still earlier, namely, when the cock crows, before dawn (Job 7:4) [Holden]. The least noise awakens them [Weiss].
daughters of music—the organs that produce and that enjoy music; the voice and ear.
5. 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), while the other trees are flowerless. Gesenius takes the Hebrew for flourishes from a different root, casts off; when the old man loses his gray hairs, as the almond tree casts its white flowers.
grasshoppers—the dry, shrivelled, old man, his backbone sticking out, his knees projecting forwards, his arms backwards, his head down, and the apophyses enlarged, is like that insect. Hence arose the fable, that Tithonus in very old age was changed into a grasshopper [Parkhurst]. "The locust raises itself to fly"; the old man about to leave the body is like a locust when it is assuming its winged form, and is about to fly [Maurer].
a burden—namely, to himself.
desire shall fail—satisfaction shall be abolished. For "desire," Vulgate has "the caper tree," provocative of lust; not so well.
long home—(Job 16:22; 17:13).
mourners—(Jer 9:17-20), hired for the occasion (Mt 9:23).
6. A double image to represent death, as in Ec 12:1-5, old age: (1) A lamp of frail material, but gilded over, often in the East hung from roofs by a cord of silk and silver interwoven; as the lamp is dashed down and broken, when the cord breaks, so man at death; the golden bowl of the lamp answers to the skull, which, from the vital preciousness of its contents, may be called "golden"; "the silver cord" is the spinal marrow, which is white and precious as silver, and is attached to the brain. (2) A fountain, from which water is drawn by a pitcher let down by a rope wound round a wheel; as, when the pitcher and wheel are broken, water can no more be drawn, so life ceases when the vital energies are gone. The "fountain" may mean the right ventricle of the heart; the "cistern," the left; the pitcher, the veins; the wheel, the aorta, or great artery [Smith]. The circulation of the blood, whether known or not to Solomon, seems to be implied in the language put by the Holy Ghost into his mouth. This gloomy picture of old age applies to those who have not "remembered their Creator in youth." They have none of the consolations of God, which they might have obtained in youth; it is now too late to seek them. A good old age is a blessing to the godly (Ge 15:15; Job 5:26; Pr 16:31; 20:29).
7. dust—the dust-formed body.
spirit—surviving the body; implying its immortality (Ec 3:11).
8-12. A summary of the first part.
Vanity, &c.—Resumption of the sentiment with which the book began (Ec 1:2; 1Jo 2:17).
9. gave good heed—literally, "he weighed." The "teaching the people" seems to have been oral; the "proverbs," in writing. There must then have been auditories assembled to hear the inspired wisdom of the Preacher. See the explanation of Koheleth in the Introduction, and chapter 1 (1Ki 4:34).
that which is written, &c.—rather, (he sought) "to write down uprightly (or, 'aright') words of truth" [Holden and Weiss]. "Acceptable" means an agreeable style; "uprightly … truth," correct sentiment.
11. goads—piercing deeply into the mind (Ac 2:37; 9:5; Heb 4:12); evidently inspired words, as the end of the verse proves.
fastened—rather, on account of the Hebrew genders, (The words) "are fastened (in the memory) like nails" [Holden].
masters of assemblies—rather, "the masters of collections (that is, collectors of inspired sayings, Pr 25:1), are given ('have published them as proceeding' [Holden]) from one Shepherd," namely, the Spirit of Jesus Christ [Weiss], (Eze 37:24). However, the mention of "goads" favors the English Version, "masters of assemblies," namely, under-shepherds, inspired by the Chief Shepherd (1Pe 5:2-4). Schmidt translates, "The masters of assemblies are fastened (made sure) as nails," so Isa 22:23.
12. (See on Ec 1:18).
many books—of mere human composition, opposed to "by these"; these inspired writings are the only sure source of "admonition."
(over much) study—in mere human books, wearies the body, without solidly profiting the soul.
13. 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 Jesus Christ alone; and, through Him, by saints now in part, hereafter perfectly (1Jo 3:22-24; Re 22:14).
14. For God shall bring every work into judgment—The future judgment is the test of what is "vanity," what solid, as regards the chief good, the grand subject of the book.