Ecclesiastes 12:2-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Here is, I. A call to young people to think of God, and mind their duty to him, when they are young: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. This is, 1. The royal preacher's application of his sermon concerning the vanity of the world and every thing in it. ?You that are young flatter yourselves with expectations of great things from it, but believe those that have tried it; it yields no solid satisfaction to a soul; therefore, that you may not be deceived by this vanity, nor too... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:2

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened ,.... The wise man proceeds to describe the infirmities of old age, and the troubles that attend it; in order to engage young men to regard God and religion, before these come upon them, which greatly unfit for his service. This the Targum and Midrash, and, after them, Jarchi, interpret of the splendour of the countenance of man, of the light of his eyes, and the beauty of his cheeks, and other parts of his face; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:3

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble ,.... By the "house" is meant the human body; which is a house of clay, the earthly house of our tabernacle, in which the soul dwells, Job 4:19 , 2 Corinthians 5:1 . The Targum interprets the keepers of the house, of the knees and the trembling of them; but the Midrash and Jarchi, much better, of the ribs; man being fenced with bones and sinews, as Job says, Job 10:11 ; though trembling cannot be well ascribed to them, they being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:4

And the doors shall be shut in the streets ,.... The Midrash and Jarchi interpret these of the holes of the body; in which they are followed by our learned and ingenuous countryman, Dr. Smith; who, by them, understands the inlets and outlets of the body; and, by the "streets", the ways and passages through which the food goes, and nourishment is conveyed; and which may be said to be shut, when they cease from their use: but it seems much better, with Aben Ezra and others, to interpret them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:5

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high ,.... Not of the most high God, before whose tribunal they must shortly appear, as some; but rather of high places, as high hills, mountains, towers, &c.; which aged persons are afraid to go up, because of the feebleness and weakness of their limbs, their difficulty of breathing, and the dizziness of their heads; and fears shall be in the way ; they do not care: to go abroad, being afraid of every little stone that lies in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:6

Or ever the silver cord be loosed ,.... As the above are the symptoms and infirmities of old age; these in this verse are the immediate symptoms of death, or what attend it, or certainly issue in it. Some by "the silver cord" understand the string of the tongue; and to this purpose is the Targum, "before thy tongue is dumb from speaking;' and it is observed F17 Vid. Castel. Lexic. Hept. col. 3662. in favour of this sense, that the failing of the tongue is no fallacious sign of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:2

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened - i.e., in the Spring, prime, and prosperity of life. Nor the clouds return - The infirmities of old age of which Winter is a proper emblem, as spring is of youth, in the former clause of this verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:3

In the day when the keepers of the house - The Body of man is here compared to a House: - mark the metaphors and their propriety. 1. The keepers shall tremble - the hands become paralytic, as is constantly the case, less or more, in old age. 2. The strong men shall bow - The legs become feeble, and unable to support the weight of the body. 3. The grinders cease because they are few - The teeth decayed and mostly lost; the few that remain being incapable of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:4

And the doors shall be shut in the streets - read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:5

When they shall be afraid of that which is high - read more

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