Ecclesiastes 12 5

Ecclesiastes 12:5 kjv

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Ecclesiastes 12:5 nkjv

Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 niv

when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 esv

they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets ?

Ecclesiastes 12:5 nlt

Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

Ecclesiastes 12 verses

Ecclesiastes 12 5 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 12:5 graphically describes the advanced stages of old age, painting a vivid picture of declining physical and mental faculties. It portrays a season of life marked by increasing fears, diminished vigor, the unmistakable appearance of white hair, and a general loss of zest for life. The verse culminates by unequivocally stating the inevitable end: humanity's journey to the grave or "eternal home," an event marked by public mourning. This passage underscores life's transience and the body's decay, serving as a powerful backdrop to Koheleth's earlier exhortation to remember the Creator in youth.

Ecclesiastes 12 5 Context

Ecclesiastes 12:5 is an integral part of Koheleth's poetic and metaphorical description of aging and eventual death, found in the concluding chapter of the book. Following the urgent exhortation in 12:1 to "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come," verses 2-7 use a series of rich metaphors to depict the physical decline that precedes the end of life. Each image contributes to a comprehensive picture of diminished vitality, fading senses, and increasing frailty, preparing the reader for the somber conclusion about humanity's journey to the "eternal home." Historically, these descriptions would have resonated deeply with an ancient audience familiar with the stark realities of natural decline, lacking modern medicine's ability to delay or alleviate some aspects of aging. The text does not directly polemicize against contemporary beliefs but rather confronts any notion of self-sufficiency or eternal earthly life, firmly anchoring human existence in its finite, divinely ordained lifecycle.

Ecclesiastes 12 5 Word analysis

• Also when they are afraid of heights (וְגַם֙ מִגָּבֹ֣הּ יִרָ֔אוּ - wəḡam miggāḇōh yirāʾû):
  • miggāḇōh: "from a high place" or "that which is high."
  • yirāʾû: "they are afraid," "they will be in awe," or "they will fear."
  • Significance: In old age, individuals often experience instability, dizziness, or loss of balance. Fear of heights (vertigo, fear of falling from elevated places, or even going up/down stairs) increases, symbolizing a general apprehension and loss of confidence in navigating the physical world. It points to growing physical weakness and a decreased sense of safety and capability.
• and terrors are in the way (וְחַתְחַתִּים֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ - wəḥathḥatthîm baddereḵ):
  • ḥathḥatthîm: "terrors," "alarming things," "sudden fears." This root (ḥtt) implies dismay or breakage.
  • baddereḵ: "in the way," "on the road," or "on the journey."
  • Significance: Everyday paths or journeys, once navigated with ease, become fraught with peril. Simple obstacles now pose a threat, causing apprehension. It speaks to a generalized anxiety about daily life and movement, as the aging body is less capable of responding to unexpected challenges or uneven terrain.
• when the almond tree blossoms (וְיָצֵ֤ץ הַשָּׁקֵד֙ - wəyāṣēṣ haššāqēḏ):
  • yāṣēṣ: "it blossoms," "it flourishes," "it shoots forth."
  • haššāqēḏ: "the almond tree."
  • Significance: The almond tree is one of the first trees to bloom in early spring, and its blossoms are typically a brilliant, stark white. This is a universally recognized metaphor for the graying or whitening of hair that signifies old age. Paradoxically, while blossoms symbolize new life in nature, here the white blossoms symbolize the approach of life's end for humans.
• and the grasshopper drags itself along (וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֥ל הֶֽחָגָב֙ - wəyisṯabbēl heḥāḡāḇ):
  • yisṯabbēl: "it drags itself along," "it becomes a burden," "it becomes heavy" (from the root sāḇal, to bear a burden).
  • heḥāḡāḇ: "the grasshopper."
  • Significance: A grasshopper is typically a nimble, light, and agile creature. The imagery of it "dragging itself along" vividly contrasts with its natural quickness. This metaphor highlights the loss of agility, speed, and effortless movement in old age, often leading to a stooped posture or a feeling of being burdened and heavy in one's own body, moving with effort and difficulty. Some see it as the body itself becoming a burden to carry.
• and desire fails (וְתָפֵ֖ר הָאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה - wəṯāp̄ēr hāʾăḇiyyônâ):
  • tāp̄ēr: "it breaks," "it fails," "it is brought to nothing."
  • hāʾăḇiyyônâ: "the desire" or "the caper berry." Scholars have debated this. The caper berry was traditionally consumed for its stimulating properties (including aphrodisiac qualities). If referring to the caper berry, its "failing" would imply a loss of natural vital urges. If translated as "desire" more broadly, it refers to the fading of general appetites, passions, ambitions, or zest for life (including food, sex, and worldly pursuits) that diminish with age. Many ancient translations, like the Septuagint and Vulgate, interpret it as "desire" or "appetite."
  • Significance: This signifies a broad decline in human vitality – the ebbing of physical appetites, emotional drives, and mental enthusiasm that characterized youth and middle age. Life becomes less appealing and motivating.
• because man goes to his eternal home (כִּי־הֹלֵ֣ךְ הָאָדָ֗ם אֶל־בֵּית֙ עוֹלָמ֔וֹ - kî hōlēḵ hāʾāḏām ʾel-bêṯ ‘ôlāmô):
  • hōlēḵ: "is going," "walks."
  • hāʾāḏām: "the man," "humanity."
  • bêṯ ‘ôlāmô: "his eternal house," "his everlasting home."
  • Significance: This is a direct, stark statement of mortality. It clarifies the ultimate reason for all the physical decline: preparation for death. "Eternal home" primarily refers to the grave, the permanent dwelling place in earthly existence, but in the broader biblical context and Koheleth's spiritual conclusion (12:7, 13-14), it hints at a transition beyond merely physical death.
• and the mourners go about the streets (וְסָבְב֥וּ בַשּׁ֛וּק הַסֹּפְדִֽים - wəsāḇəḇū baššûq hassōp̄əḏîm):
  • sāḇəḇū: "they go around," "they circulate."
  • baššûq: "in the street," "in the marketplace."
  • hassōp̄əḏîm: "the mourners," specifically professional lamenters or wailers.
  • Significance: This vividly describes the public display of mourning and the funeral procession common in the ancient Near East, often involving hired professional mourners. It underscores the social recognition of death and its finality, making the journey to the "eternal home" a communal and unavoidable event. It marks the complete transition from life to death.

Words-Group Analysis

• "when they are afraid of heights, and terrors are in the way": This pairing illustrates the increased psychological and physical vulnerability of the aged. The external world, once manageable, becomes a source of anxiety due to an internal loss of capability, representing diminished confidence and a heightened sense of danger in daily life.
• "when the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper drags itself along": These two images provide contrasting yet complementary metaphors. The almond tree's white blossoms outwardly announce old age (white hair), while the struggling grasshopper internally symbolizes the profound loss of physical agility and the sensation of being burdensome to oneself, a fundamental reversal of one's natural spryness.
• "desire fails—because man goes to his eternal home": The direct causal link (because) establishes that the decline in desire and vitality is directly attributed to the inevitability of death. All the preceding signs of aging are but preludes to the ultimate transition, signaling the profound spiritual reality behind the physical changes.
• "man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets": This juxtaposes the individual's solemn departure with the communal response to death. The "eternal home" is a private destination, but the "mourners" make it a public announcement, solidifying the societal impact and inescapable finality of the journey.

Ecclesiastes 12 5 Bonus section

The "eternal home" (beit ‘olamo) in Hebrew literature, while primarily referring to the grave as a final resting place on earth, is given profound spiritual depth within the broader biblical narrative. Though Koheleth offers little explicit detail on an afterlife beyond the dust returning to the earth and the spirit to God (Eccl 12:7), the concept resonates with the Old Testament understanding of Sheol—the abode of the dead—and finds its ultimate fulfillment and hope in the New Testament's revelation of resurrection and eternal life in Christ. For believers, this "eternal home" transitions from a place of mere physical rest to the glorious presence of God, a destination transformed by the promise of bodily resurrection and a renewed heavens and earth, where all tears and death are wiped away.

Ecclesiastes 12 5 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 12:5 delivers a potent, multi-faceted poetic depiction of old age as a period of profound physical and psychological decline, emphasizing the inevitability of mortality. Each metaphor—from the fear of high places and omnipresent terrors, signifying lost stability and increased anxiety, to the almond tree's white blossoms (gray hair), and the dragging grasshopper (sluggish movement, hunched posture, feeling like a burden)—points to the decay of the physical body. The failure of "desire" captures the waning of life's vitality and appetites. The Preacher uses these vivid images not for mere lament, but to lead to the solemn, undeniable truth: that these are merely preliminary stages to the final journey, "man goes to his eternal home." The presence of professional mourners further accentuates the communal recognition of this ultimate transition. This verse serves as a powerful call to heed the earlier exhortation to "remember your Creator" before these unavoidable days of decline fully set in.