Ecclesiastes 12 2

Ecclesiastes 12:2 kjv

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

Ecclesiastes 12:2 nkjv

While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

Ecclesiastes 12:2 niv

before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

Ecclesiastes 12:2 esv

before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

Ecclesiastes 12:2 nlt

Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

Ecclesiastes 12 verses

Ecclesiastes 12 2 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 12:2 portrays the initial stage of physical and cognitive decline in old age through a series of vivid natural metaphors. It speaks of a time before the sources of light (sun, moon, stars) become obscured, symbolizing failing eyesight, mental dimming, and the loss of joy. The returning clouds after rain represent an unbroken period of gloom, signifying recurring ailments, sorrow, or a persistent state of physical and emotional heaviness characteristic of advanced age, where no respite is found. This verse urges an urgent remembrance of the Creator before life's full darkness descends.

Ecclesiastes 12 2 Context

Ecclesiastes 12:2 stands as the second verse in the final chapter of the book, which serves as Qoeheleth's ultimate conclusion and summation. Following the exhortation in 12:1 to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth," verses 2-7 poetically and graphically describe the inevitable decline of the human body and mind in old age, culminating in death. This section contrasts starkly with the fleeting joys and transient pursuits of life "under the sun" previously explored. The context here is a powerful appeal to make wise spiritual choices before physical infirmity and the ultimate end prevent such discernment and action. The broader historical context is ancient Israel, where respect for elders was taught, but also the harsh realities of physical deterioration were universally observed, often without the advanced medical understanding or support systems of later eras. The passage subtly counters any philosophy that prioritizes solely physical pleasures or ignores the spiritual, urging remembrance of God before the body's machinery fails, leading to spiritual oblivion.

Ecclesiastes 12 2 Word analysis

• Or ever: A somewhat archaic English conjunction meaning "before."

  • Significance: Emphasizes the temporal urgency and warns against delay. The implication is to act now, before the depicted conditions begin. It marks the threshold of physical deterioration.

• the sun (Hebrew: שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh): The primary source of light, warmth, and vitality.

  • Significance: Symbolizes strong vision, cognitive clarity, outward joy, and life's full vigor. Its dimming is the onset of failing eyesight and a general decline in alertness.

• or the light (Hebrew: אוֹר, 'or): General light, brightness, day.

  • Significance: Reinforces the fading of perception and comprehension, perhaps encompassing the joy and clarity that light represents. It signifies a broader loss of the capacity to experience the fullness of life.

• or the moon (Hebrew: יָרֵחַ, yareakh): The lesser light, often associated with night and reflective beauty.

  • Significance: Its darkening suggests further loss of vision, even in conditions of low light. It also implies the loss of appreciation for the gentler, subtler aspects of life.

• or the stars (Hebrew: כּוֹכָבִים, kokhavim): Celestial points of light.

  • Significance: The dimming of these multiple points indicates an almost complete obscuring of vision and understanding. Metaphorically, it refers to the loss of mental acuity, dreams, and perhaps the ability to find guidance or wonder.

• be darkened (Hebrew: חָשַׂךְ, ḥāśak): To withhold, to keep back, to darken, to obscure. Passive voice indicates an external or natural process acting upon the light sources.

  • Significance: A literal depiction of fading physical senses (especially sight), and a metaphorical portrayal of declining mental faculties, emotional vibrancy, and spiritual insight. It is the beginning of gloom and diminished capacity.

• nor the clouds return (Hebrew: וְשָׁבוּ הֶעָבִים, v'shavu he'avim): And return the clouds. This phrase is striking because usually clouds depart after rain, making way for clear skies.

  • Significance: Represents a relentless and persistent state of gloom, sorrow, or physical ailments. Instead of a natural cycle of relief after a storm (rain), new 'clouds' (troubles, pains, depression, weakness) consistently reappear. This describes chronic suffering characteristic of prolonged old age. It signifies a perpetual spiritual or emotional 'winter'.

• after the rain: (Hebrew: אַחַר הַגֶּשֶׁם, akhar hagashem): Following a period of precipitation.

  • Significance: In the context of "clouds returning," it points to a never-ending cycle of hardship. The expectation of clarity and restoration after difficulties is constantly frustrated by new ones, intensifying the metaphor of relentless decline.

Ecclesiastes 12 2 Bonus section

The Hebrew parallelism employed in verse 2 is masterful. The initial quartet of light sources ("sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars") functions as a merism, signifying all forms of illumination and, by extension, all aspects of sensory and cognitive function that decline with age. The shift from the specific celestial bodies to "light" ('or), a more general term, can suggest not only failing eyesight but a broader dimming of life's vitality and clarity of thought.

Furthermore, the imagery here subtly links to creation narratives (Gen 1:3-19) where God creates light and celestial bodies to govern days and seasons. By describing these elements "darkening" or "returning" to perpetual gloom, the text hints at a reversal of the creation order within the individual, signifying a move towards the original chaos (Hebrew: tohu wabohu) before creation, implying a kind of personal un-creation as one approaches death. The contrast between light (life, knowledge, joy, God's presence) and darkness (death, ignorance, sorrow, absence of God) is a recurrent biblical motif, making this verse's use of light symbolism particularly potent in emphasizing the consequences of not remembering the Creator while there is still 'light'.

Ecclesiastes 12 2 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 12:2 serves as a profound warning, using highly symbolic and poetic language to describe the gradual onset of old age's challenges. The imagery of fading celestial lights—sun, light, moon, and stars—is a powerful representation of deteriorating vision, declining mental faculties, and a general loss of the vibrancy and joy of youth. It is not just physical eyesight but also the internal 'light' of hope, understanding, and enthusiasm that begins to dim.

The phrase "nor the clouds return after the rain" is particularly poignant and distinct. In nature, rain brings forth life and is usually followed by a period of clear skies, offering a sense of renewal or relief. However, in this metaphor, the "clouds"—symbolizing sorrow, pain, weakness, and persistent problems—do not dissipate but return again and again after the initial "rain" of difficulties. This conveys a state of perpetual gloom, chronic ailments, or recurring episodes of sorrow that offer no respite. It captures the often-relentless and accumulating struggles of old age where one affliction might be followed by another, leaving little space for recovery or peace.

The verse, therefore, emphasizes the urgency of heeding the previous verse's call to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" (Ecc 12:1). It underscores that time is finite and fleeting, and the capacity for physical and intellectual engagement with God diminishes as one ages. Before the vibrancy of life is irrevocably darkened by irreversible physical decay and mental decline, it is imperative to seek and establish a relationship with the divine. The book's overarching theme of the futility of worldly pursuits "under the sun" finds its most forceful application here, as all earthly endeavors are seen to lead inevitably to this state of decline, rendering them truly meaningless unless pursued within the context of a relationship with the Creator.

Practical Usage:

• Encourages young individuals to dedicate their best years and full capabilities to spiritual growth and service.
• Warns against procrastination in matters of faith, as old age brings unavoidable limitations.
• Highlights the fragility of life and the inevitability of physical decline, redirecting focus to eternal values.