Ecclesiastes 12 3

Ecclesiastes 12:3 kjv

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

Ecclesiastes 12:3 nkjv

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

Ecclesiastes 12:3 niv

when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;

Ecclesiastes 12:3 esv

in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,

Ecclesiastes 12:3 nlt

Remember him before your legs ? the guards of your house ? start to tremble; and before your shoulders ? the strong men ? stoop. Remember him before your teeth ? your few remaining servants ? stop grinding; and before your eyes ? the women looking through the windows ? see dimly.

Ecclesiastes 12 verses

Ecclesiastes 12 3 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 12:3 describes the inevitable physical decline that accompanies old age through a series of vivid metaphors related to a deteriorating "house" – the human body. The verse illustrates the weakening of the body's protective structures (arms/hands), the loss of upright posture and strength (legs/back), the inability to properly consume food (teeth), and the diminishing of sensory perception (eyesight). It paints a poignant picture of human frailty and the onset of decay, serving as a powerful call to remember one's Creator before these physical incapacities set in, as exhorted in verse 1 of the same chapter.

Ecclesiastes 12 3 Context

Ecclesiastes 12:3 is part of the final, climactic section of the book, which provides Qoheleth's summary and concluding exhortation. Following the command in verse 1 to "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth," the succeeding verses (2-7) use profound poetic metaphors to describe the physical and mental deterioration of old age and the ultimate inevitability of death. These verses serve to underscore the urgency of the call to seek God early in life, before the infirmities of age make such pursuits challenging or impossible.

Historically, this passage reflects a universal human experience of aging, understood and observed across ancient cultures. It also speaks to the broader wisdom tradition found throughout the ancient Near East, which frequently pondered life's brevity, suffering, and the pursuit of meaning. The emphasis on decline could implicitly counter any contemporary belief that human strength or wisdom alone can secure ultimate lasting joy or meaning, reinforcing Qoheleth's central message of the vanity of all under the sun without God.

Ecclesiastes 12 3 Word analysis

• In the day when (בְּי֥וֹם - bə·yō·wm): This phrase introduces a specific, but indefinite, period—signifying "when the time comes" or "at the time of" old age, rather than a single 24-hour day. It points to a season of life.
• the keepers (שֹֽׁמְרֵי֩ - šō·mə·rê): From the root shamar, meaning "to watch, guard, keep." Metaphorically refers to the arms and hands, which actively guard and protect the body, especially in ancient societies where physical labor and self-defense were common. Their role is protective.
• of the house (הַבַּ֨יִת - hab·ba·yiṯ): "The house" is a well-established metaphor for the human body, serving as a dwelling for the soul or inner self. This imagery reinforces the body as a structure that requires upkeep and protection.
• tremble (יִרְגְּז֣וּן - yir·gə·zûn): "To tremble, shake, quiver." This depicts the involuntary shaking or instability that often comes with advanced age, indicative of diminished strength and control in the hands and arms.
• and the strong men (וְאַנְשֵׁי֙ הֶחָיִל֩ - wa·’an·šê he·ḥa·yil): "And men of strength, power, valor." This refers to the legs and knees, the body's primary supports and instruments of locomotion, vital for daily activity and movement. In ancient context, strength was highly valued for labor and defense.
• stoop (יִתְעַוְּת֖וּ - yiṯ·‘aw·wə·ṯū): "To bend, to be bent, twisted, perverted." This graphically describes the bending or curving of the spine, or the weakening of the legs, leading to a hunched posture and difficulty in standing upright, a classic sign of old age.
• and the grinders (וְהַטֹּחֲנוֹת֙ - wə·haṭ·ṭō·ḥa·nōṯ): "The grinding women." The Hebrew here uses a feminine plural, tochanot, often understood as metaphorical for the molars/teeth, especially those in the back that are crucial for grinding food. The feminine plural might subtly allude to a group or pair, much like grinding was often done by multiple women.
• cease (בָּטְל֔וּ - bāṭ·lū): "To cease, stop, become idle." This signifies the inability to perform their function, meaning the teeth can no longer effectively chew food, either due to decay, loss, or pain.
• because they are few (כִּי מִֽעֲט֔וּ - kî miṭ·‘ă·ṭū): "For they have become few." This directly explains why the grinders cease – teeth have been lost, leaving only a few remaining, unable to perform the necessary task.
• and those who look (וְהָרֹאֹת֙ - wə·hā·rō·’ōṯ): From the verb ra'ah, "to see, look." Also a feminine plural participle, typically referring to the eyes. Like the "grinders," the feminine form might be used poetically for body parts that are paired.
• through the windows (בָּֽאֲרֻבֹּ֖וֹת - ba·’arub·bōṯ): "Through the lattices, windows, sluice-gates." This refers to the eyes as the "windows" of the body, through which one perceives the world. This evokes a sense of partial or obscured vision.
• grow dim (יֶֽחְשְׁכ֖וּ - yeḥ·šak·nāh): "To grow dark, become dark, be darkened." This describes the fading and dimming of eyesight, another common and progressive ailment of old age.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The keepers of the house tremble": This phrase captures the decline of the body's protective mechanisms, losing strength and steadiness. It signifies a fundamental vulnerability entering one's being.
• "and the strong men stoop": This vividly portrays the loss of structural integrity and uprightness, transforming the confident posture of youth into the bent posture of age. It represents the diminishment of physical power and capacity for movement.
• "and the grinders cease because they are few": This points to the degradation of essential functions—specifically, the ability to nourish oneself properly. It's a stark image of basic life support systems failing, with the direct cause provided as an explanation.
• "and those who look through the windows grow dim": This illustrates the fading of sensory perception, particularly sight, which connects one to the external world. It suggests an inward turning or a withdrawal from the world due to inability to fully perceive it.

Ecclesiastes 12 3 Bonus section

The metaphors in Ecclesiastes 12:3, alongside the other verses describing old age (vv. 2, 4-7), are often seen as a continuous allegory for a deteriorating estate or city, representing the human body. The precise identification of each metaphor with a specific body part has varied slightly among scholars throughout history, underscoring the richness and deliberate ambiguity of the poetic language designed to evoke the overall experience rather than provide a strict anatomical chart. For instance, some interpret "keepers of the house" as arms/shoulders rather than hands. Regardless, the central message of progressive decline remains clear and universally understood. The passage stands in a literary tradition of memento mori, reminders of mortality, but uniquely intertwines it with a call to conscious, timely devotion to God.

Ecclesiastes 12 3 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 12:3 is a masterpiece of metaphorical poetry, painting an unforgettable picture of human senescence. Far from being a mere anatomical list, these descriptions serve a profound theological purpose: to highlight life's ephemeral nature and emphasize the urgency of heeding Qoheleth's central call to "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth" (Ecc 12:1). Each deteriorating bodily function – trembling hands, stooping posture, failing teeth, and dimming eyes – represents a facet of life gradually shutting down. The "house" of the body, once vibrant and robust, becomes dilapidated. This vivid portrayal confronts readers with the inescapable reality of their own mortality and physical decay, driving home the point that a time will come when the pleasures of youth and the vigor of life are no longer accessible. The verse serves as a powerful deterrent against procrastination in spiritual matters, implicitly warning that once these physical tolls set in, the capacity for vigorous remembrance, obedience, and service to God will be greatly hindered. Thus, it's not a message of despair but a wake-up call to steward one's youthful years and capabilities for eternal purposes, before the light fades and the dust returns to the earth.