Epilogue: The Teacher’s Conclusion — Fear God and Keep His Commands
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Ecc.12.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- שהיה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- קהלת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- חכם: ADJ,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- למד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דעת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואזן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וחקר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תקן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- משלים: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,pl
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Eccl.12:10-11 (structural): Immediate continuation: the Preacher explains his careful seeking and writing of 'words of delight' and describes the sayings of the wise as goads and firmly fixed nails—an explicit development of his teaching and collection of proverbs.
- Proverbs 1:20-23 (thematic): Wisdom personified publicly calls out to the people, offering instruction and knowledge; parallels Qoheleth’s role as a teacher addressing the community with collected wisdom.
- Proverbs 25:1 (verbal): Identifies a collection of Solomon’s proverbs assembled by Hezekiah’s men—parallels the idea of compiling, weighing, and studying many proverbs as described of Qoheleth.
- Psalm 78:1-4 (thematic): An explicit call to teach and recount instructive sayings and deeds to the people and future generations—resonates with Qoheleth’s role in imparting knowledge and instruction to the community.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moreover, what the Preacher was—he was wise; he still taught knowledge to the people, gave ear, investigated, and set in order many proverbs.
- Moreover, because the Preacher was wise he still taught knowledge to the people; he listened, investigated, and set in order many proverbs.
Ecc.12.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בקש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- קהלת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- למצא: PREP,VERB,qal,inf
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- חפץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וכתוב: PTCP,qal,pass,ms,sg
- ישר: ADJ,m,sg
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- אמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 22:20-21 (structural): Speaks of composing and writing sayings 'to make you know what is right and true,' closely paralleling Qoheleth’s intent to write upright words of truth.
- Proverbs 8:6-7 (verbal): Wisdom declares it has 'trustworthy things to say' and opens its lips to speak what is right—language thematically and verbally akin to seeking and uttering upright, true words.
- Jeremiah 36:2 (quotation): God commands Jeremiah to 'take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken'—a parallel in the prophetic/wisdom motive to record and preserve true words.
- Proverbs 12:19 (thematic): Affirms that 'truthful lips endure forever,' resonating with Qoheleth’s emphasis on producing 'words of truth' and valuing enduring, upright speech.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Preacher sought to find pleasing words and to write straight words of truth.
- The Preacher sought to find pleasing words, and to write upright words of truth.
Ecc.12.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- חכמים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- כדרבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- וכמשמרות: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- נטועים: VERB,qal,ptc,m,pl
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אספות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- נתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- מרעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
Parallels
- Proverbs 22:17-21 (structural): Both passages present collections of wise sayings assembled for instruction; Proverbs explicitly frames a set of transmitted maxims like the 'collected sayings' mentioned in Ecclesiastes.
- Isaiah 22:23 (verbal): Uses the imagery of a nail/peg fixed in a secure place (’fasten him as a nail in a sure place’), echoing Ecclesiastes’ metaphor of sayings as 'nails firmly fixed.'
- Ezekiel 34:23 (thematic): Speaks of God setting up 'one shepherd' over the flock; parallels Ecclesiastes’ reference to the sayings being 'given by one Shepherd' as a single authoritative source.
- John 10:16 (allusion): Jesus’ wording 'I have other sheep... and there shall be one flock, one shepherd' parallels the theme of a single shepherd-figure as source/unifier, resonating with Ecclesiastes’ 'one Shepherd.'
Alternative generated candidates
- The words of the wise are like goads, and like firmly fixed nails are the collected sayings—given by one shepherd.
- The words of the wise are like goads, and like firmly driven nails are the collected sayings—given by one Shepherd.
Ecc.12.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מהמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- הזהר: VERB,hif,imp,2,m,sg
- עשות: VERB,qal,inf
- ספרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- קץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולהג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יגעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- בשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 (structural): Immediate context — the closing remarks of the Preacher that explain his composition of proverbs and books and introduce the warning about endless books and weary study.
- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (thematic): Parallel theme that increased wisdom/knowledge brings sorrow or grief, echoing the idea that extensive study can produce weariness of the flesh.
- 2 Timothy 3:7 (thematic): Paul’s warning about people who are always learning but never arrive at saving truth parallels the critique of endless study that yields no vital benefit.
- Colossians 2:8 (thematic): A New Testament caution against being deceived by human philosophy and empty tradition resonates with Ecclesiastes’ skepticism about the value of numerous books and exhaustive learning.
- 1 Timothy 6:20 (thematic): Paul’s injunction to avoid 'vain babblings' and falsely called knowledge reflects the concern in Ecclesiastes about fruitless or burdensome study and speculation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moreover, of these take heed, my son: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
- And besides, of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecc.12.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- סוף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכל: PRON,m,sg,abs
- נשמע: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- מצותיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- שמור: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- כל: DET
- האדם: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 10:12 (verbal): Both verses issue a succinct imperative—'fear the LORD'—as the central requirement of humanity; Ecclesiastes' call to keep God's commandments echoes Deut 10:12's summary of what God requires.
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Offers a compact summary of human duty before God (righteous action, mercy, humility) analogous to Ecclesiastes' concise verdict that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole duty of man.
- Matthew 22:37-40 (structural): Jesus' summary of the law (love God and neighbor) functions as a brief, authoritative summation of obligations—paralleling Ecclesiastes' closing one‑line distillation of human duty to God.
- Proverbs 9:10 (verbal): Affirms that 'the fear of the LORD' is foundational to wisdom, reinforcing Ecclesiastes' emphasis that fearing God is central to human obligation and proper conduct.
- 1 Samuel 12:24 (verbal): Combines the summons to 'fear the LORD' with the duty to serve/obey him faithfully—closely paralleling Ecclesiastes' pairing of fearing God and keeping his commandments as man's duty.
Alternative generated candidates
- The end of the matter, when all is heard: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
- The end of the matter—everything has been heard: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc.12.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- מעשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יבא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- במשפט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- נעלם: ADJ,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ואם: CONJ
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Romans 2:16 (verbal): Paul echoes the theme that God will judge secret things, saying God will judge the secrets of men—linking divine judgment to hidden deeds.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 (thematic): All must appear before Christ's judgment seat to receive recompense for deeds done in the body, paralleling the idea that God brings every work into judgment.
- Hebrews 4:13 (allusion): Nothing is hidden from God’s sight—'all things are naked and open'—which parallels Ecclesiastes' emphasis that hidden deeds are brought into judgment.
- Matthew 12:36-37 (thematic): Jesus warns of giving account for every idle word and being justified or condemned by one's words, reflecting the broader principle that all actions (and secrets) are subject to divine judgment.
- Revelation 20:12 (structural): The dead are judged according to their works when the books are opened, a vivid apocalyptic parallel to the affirmation that God will bring every work, good or evil, into judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- For God will bring every work into judgment, with regard to every hidden thing, whether good or whether evil.
- For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or whether evil.
Moreover, the Preacher, being wise, still taught knowledge to the people; he listened, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
The Preacher sought to find pleasant words and to write uprightly the words of truth.
The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like firmly fixed nails are the collected sayings—given by one shepherd.
Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
The end of the matter—everything has been heard: fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or whether evil.