Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The great enquiry which Solomon prosecutes in this book is, What is that good which the sons of men should do? Eccl. 2:3. What is the true way to true happiness, the certain means to attain our great end? He had in vain sought it among those things which most men are eager in pursuit of, but here, at length, he has found it, by the help of that discovery which God anciently made to man (Job 28:28), that serious godliness is the only way to true happiness: Let us hear the conclusion of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter ,.... Or "the end" F15 סוף דבר הכל "finis verbi omnis", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus; "finis universi negotii", Tigurine version, so Vatablus. of it. The sum and substance of it, what it all tends to and issues in; even the whole of what is contained in this book, and in all offer divinely inspired writings of Solomon or others; of all that were now written, or before, or since: this the preacher calls upon himself, as well as his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:14

For God shall bring every work into judgment ,.... Not in this life, but in the day of the great judgment, as the Targum explains it; that is, whatever has been done by men, from the beginning of the world, or will be to the end; all being observed and taken notice of by the omniscient God, who has registered them in the book of his remembrance, and, being Judge, will be able to bring them all into account at that awful day: which is here given as a reason why men should fear God, and keep... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:13

After all, the sum of the great business of human life is comprised in this short sentence, on which some millions of books have been already written! Fear God, and Keep His Commandments Know that He Is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Reverence him; pay him adoration. Love him, that you may be happy. Keep his commandments - They are contained in two words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" "And thy neighbor as thyself." ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:14

For God shall bring every work into judgment - This is the reason why we should "fear God and keep his commandments." Because there will be a day of judgment. Every soul of man shall stand at that bar. God, the infinitely wise, the heart-searching God, will be judge. He will bring to light every secret thing - all that has been done since the creation, by all men; whether forgotten or registered; whether done in secret or in public. All the works of the godly, as well as all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

THE EPILOGUE . This contains some observations commendatory of the author, explaining his standpoint and the object of the book, the great conclusion to which it leads. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

The author warns against profitless study, and gives the final conclusion to which the whole discussion leads. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:13

The teaching of the whole book is now gathered up in two weighty sentences. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter . The Revised Version gives, This is the end of the matter ; all hath been heard . The Septuagint has, τέλος λόγου τὸ πᾶν ἄκουε , "The end of the matter, the sum, hear thou;" Vulgate, Finem loquendi pariter omnes audiamus. Another rendering is suggested, "The conclusion of the matter is this, that [God] taketh knowledge of all things;" literally,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:14

The great duty just named is here grounded upon the solemn truth of a future judgment. For God shall bring every work into judgment. It will then be seen whether this obligation has been 'attended to or not. The judgment has already been mentioned ( Ecclesiastes 11:9 ); it is here more emphatically set forth as a certain fact and a strong motive power. The old theory of earthly retribution had been shown to break down under the experience of practical life; the anomalies which perplexed... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

This passage is properly regarded as the Epilogue of the whole book; a kind of apology for the obscurity of many of its sayings. The passage serves therefore to make the book more intelligible and more acceptable.Here, as in the beginning of the book Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, the Preacher speaks of himself Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 in the third person. He first repeats Ecclesiastes 12:8 the mournful, perplexing theme with which his musings began Ecclesiastes 1:2; and then states the encouraging practical... read more

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