Bible Commentary

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 4. and the doors shall be shut in the streets ] The picture of the city under … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 12:4”

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 3. in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble ] Here, as before, there is a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 12:3”

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 2. while the sun, or the light ] The imagery falls in naturally with the thought that the approach of death is represented by the gathering of a tempest. It does not follow, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 12:2”

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; 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ] The word for “Creator” is strictly the participle of the verb which … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 12:1”

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity. 10. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart ] The two clauses recognise the two conditions of happiness so far as happiness is attainable by man on earth. “Sorrow,” better perhaps, discontent or vexation, is by a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:10”

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. 9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:9”

But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity. 8. But if a man live many years ] Better, For if a man The relation is one of connexion rather than contrast. In the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:8”

Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun: 7. Truly the light is sweet ] Better, And the light is sweet. The conjunction is simply the usual copulative particle. The word for “sweet” is that used of honey in Jdg 14:14; of the honeycomb in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:7”

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good. 6. In the morning sow thy seed ] Once again the enigmatic form, as in Ecc 11:2, is the touchstone of interpreters. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:6”

As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit ] The Hebrew word for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:5”