Eclesiastés 12:10-11 NTV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

The phrase "these collections" (Ecclesiastes 12:11) refers to other collections of wise sayings (e.g., Job and Proverbs). Ultimately all wisdom comes from God. "Goads" (Ecclesiastes 12:11) are prodding sticks, and people who master this wisdom literature are similar to "well-driven nails" in that they are stable and secure."Beyond this" (Ecclesiastes 12:12) evidently refers to beyond the wisdom literature that God has revealed, in view of Ecclesiastes 12:11. Solomon warned his disciple that... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

In Life Remember Death and Judgment1. The Creator is to be remembered in youth. When the powers of mind and body are failing, it will be too late.1-7. Commentators have differed much as to the interpretation of this passage. It has been taken by many as a description of the gradual failing of one bodily organ after another till death supervenes. In that case we may explain Ecclesiastes 12:2. thus: The light grows dim to the aged sense, and reason is dulled and ceases to illuminate. The old man... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ecclesiastes 12:11

(11) Words of the wise.—In this and the next verse the weighty words of sages, such as was Kohéleth, are contrasted with the volubility of modern bookmakers. Though the general purpose of the verses is plain, the words used are enigmatical, and one cannot feel great confidence in assigning their precise meaning. The translation of our version fairly represents the original, if it is observed that the words “by” and “which,” which determine the meaning, are in italics. With regard to the “nail,”... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Samuel Rutherford, in some letters addressed to young Scotchmen, often enlarges on this idea. 'A young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil to dwell in.' 'I know that missive letters go between the devil and young blood. Satan hath a friend at court in the heart of youth; and there pride, luxury, lust, revenge, forgetfulness of God, are hired agents.' 'Youth ordinarily is a fast and ready servant for Satan to run errands.' 'Believe it, my lord,' this in a letter to a... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

THE EPILOGUEIn Which The Problem Of The Book Is Conclusively SolvedEcclesiastes 12:8-14"STUDENTS," says the Talmud, "are of four kinds; they are like a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sieve: like a sponge that sucketh all up; like a funnel which receiveth at one end and dischargeth at the other; like a strainer which letteth the wine pass but retaineth the lees; and like a sieve which dischargeth the bran but retaineth the corn." Coheleth is like the sieve. He is the good student who has... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

CHAPTER 12 1. Youth and old age (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 ) 2. The concluding epilogue (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 ) Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 . Childhood and youth are vanity! That is the concluding sentence of the previous chapter. The vanities of life, the doom and darkness of the grave are uppermost in his mind, and the final word he speaks, ere he closeth with his epilogue, is the same with which he began his search, the search which brought out so many things, yet nothing in reality--as in the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:11

12:11 The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails {x} fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one {y} shepherd.(x) Which are well applied by the ministers, whom he calls masters.(y) That is by God. read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

The Whole Duty of Man Ecclesiastes 12:0 Now we come upon the exhortation which Coheleth addresses to the young man, and we have seen how high is his title to assume the office of teacher of youth. We are not about to listen to a preacher who has had no experience of the world. We cannot taunt this man, saying, "If you knew more, you would say less." Here is a "man who knows the whole round of pleasure, a man who has drained every goblet of offered joy, and who comes to us from the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. (10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. (12) And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:10

CHAPTER XII. Profitable. Hebrew, "pleasing." Utile dulci. (Haydock) --- Perhaps he condemns his attempt to know all things, chap. i. 13. (Calmet) read more