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 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecclesiastes 12:3 | When the keepers of the house tremble... and the grinders cease... | Body's frailty |
| Psalm 38:3 | Your strength is dried up as if by the heat of summer. | Loss of bodily strength |
| Psalm 71:9 | Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. | Prayer for strength in old age |
| Psalm 71:18 | So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might. | God's presence in old age |
| Proverbs 16:31 | Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. | Honor of old age |
| Isaiah 46:4 | Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. | God's enduring care |
| Isaiah 65:22 | They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; | Imagery of enduring life |
| Jeremiah 31:12 | They shall come and sing for joy on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD... | Future restoration and joy |
| Matthew 9:15 | And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” | Times of sorrow vs. joy |
| Mark 2:19 | Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast." | Parallels with wedding imagery |
| John 11:9 | Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." | Day vs. night analogy for clarity |
| 1 Corinthians 6:20 | You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. | Stewardship of the body |
| 2 Corinthians 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for the things done in the body, whether good or evil. | Accountability for actions in the body |
| Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Philippians 2:21 | For they all seek their own interests, not the interests of Christ Jesus. | Contrasting self-interest with Christ's |
| 1 Peter 4:7 | The end of all things is near; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. | Imminent end and sober living |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | Humility and respect across generations |
| Genesis 1:27 | So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. | Creation of humanity |
| Genesis 42:38 | But he said, “You will bring my gray head down to Sheol with sorrow.” | Jacob's sorrow affecting his old age |
| Job 5:26 | You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes in its season. | Peaceful death in old age |
| Psalm 103:15-16 | As for man, his days are like grass; like a wildflower he blooms, but when the wind passes over it, it is gone, and its place knows it no more. | Transience of human life |
Ecclesiastes 12 verses
Ecclesiastes 12 3 Meaning
This verse paints a vivid, allegorical picture of aging, where the body's faculties decline. The "keepers of the house" (hands and arms) tremble, signifying weakness and inability to perform tasks. The "strong men" (legs and knees) bend, illustrating impaired mobility. "Grinders" (teeth) cease their function due to loss of teeth, affecting chewing and nourishment. "Lookers" (eyes) dim, reflecting failing sight. The shutting of "doors" (mouth and ears) suggests a diminished ability to taste, speak, or hear, further contributing to isolation.
Ecclesiastes 12 3 Context
Ecclesiastes 12 marks the culmination of the Preacher's reflection on life "under the sun." Chapter 11 concluded with a call to remember God in youth. Chapter 12 shifts to the consequences of neglecting this call as old age inevitably arrives. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful, extended metaphor for the physical deterioration that accompanies aging, serving as a stark reminder of life's transience and the importance of prior commitment to God. The audience, likely learned individuals in ancient Israel, would have understood these vivid descriptions of bodily decay, drawing a connection between the decline of physical strength and the decline of a life lived apart from the Creator. There is no direct polemic against contemporary beliefs, but rather a profound pastoral exhortation grounded in observed reality and theological truth.
Ecclesiastes 12 3 Word analysis
- כִּי־ (ki): "When" or "for." Introduces the temporal clause describing the onset of old age.
- יָבוֹא (yavo): "comes" or "will come." Future tense, emphasizing the inevitability of old age.
- יְמֵי (yemei): "days of." Refers to the period of life, specifically old age.
- שְׁנוֹתֶֽיךָ (shenotecha): "your years." Singular possessive for "you."
- אֲשֶׁר (asher): "in which" or "when." Connects the years to the following descriptive clauses.
- תֹּאמַר (to'mar): "you will say" or "you would say." Introduces the internal commentary or experience of the aged.
- אֵין־ (ein): "there are no" or "is not." Emphatic negation.
- בָּהֶם (bahem): "in them." Refers back to "your years."
- חֵפֶץ (chefetz): "pleasure," "delight," "desire," or "will." Indicates a lack of enjoyment or will.
Group Analysis:
- "When the days of your years in which you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'" This entire phrase captures the essence of diminished vitality and satisfaction in old age, signaling a departure from the vibrancy of youth. It encapsulates a profound sense of lassitude and detachment from the former joys of life.
Ecclesiastes 12 3 Bonus section
The imagery here resonates with artistic and literary depictions across cultures of the elderly as frail. However, the Preacher frames this frailty within a theological context—life "under the sun" reaches a point of physical diminishment. This isn't necessarily a condemnation of old age itself, but a warning against reaching it without a spiritual foundation. The turning point in understanding is recognizing that the body is a temple, as emphasized in the New Testament (1 Cor 6:19-20). Therefore, a life lived honoring God prepares one not for ease in old age, but for assurance in God even amidst decay. The cessation of enjoyment ("no pleasure in them") is particularly poignant, suggesting a disconnection from life's simple offerings, which can be exacerbated by a life that was never rightly oriented toward God's purposes.
Ecclesiastes 12 3 Commentary
The verse is a starkly beautiful and honest portrayal of physical aging, employing a series of vivid metaphors. These are not random ailments but a coherent picture of decline that affects all aspects of bodily function. The Preacher uses this to underscore the urgency of remembering God in youth. As the body fails, so too does the ability to actively serve and praise God with one's full strength and faculties. The inability to find "pleasure" is more than just physical discomfort; it suggests a spiritual and emotional withdrawal, a potential consequence of having not properly engaged with God during more vigorous years. This paints a somber picture but ultimately serves as a powerful motivator to live purposefully now, ensuring that even in weakness, one's hope and trust are in the eternal God, who does not grow old or infirm.