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Ecclesiastes 12

Eccl. 12:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
Remember
zakar (Hebrew #2142)
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as denominative from 2145) to be male
KJV usage: X burn (incense), X earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, X still, think on, X well.
Pronounce: zaw-kar'
Origin: a primitive root
p now thy Creator
bara' (Hebrew #1254)
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
KJV usage: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
Pronounce: baw-raw'
Origin: a primitive root
in the days
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
of thy youth
bchurowth (Hebrew #979)
feminine plural of 970; also (masculine plural) bchuriym {bekh-oo-reem'}; youth (collectively and abstractly)
KJV usage: young men, youth.
Pronounce: bekh-oo-rothe'
Origin: or bchuwrowth {bekh-oo-roth'}
, while the evil
ra` (Hebrew #7451)
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
KJV usage: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
Pronounce: rah
Origin: from 7489
days
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
come
bow' (Hebrew #935)
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
KJV usage: abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.
Pronounce: bo
Origin: a primitive root
not, nor the years
shaneh (Hebrew #8141)
from 8138; a year (as a revolution of time)
KJV usage: + whole age, X long, + old, year(X -ly).
Pronounce: shaw-neh'
Origin: (in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}
draw nigh
naga` (Hebrew #5060)
properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphem., to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.)
KJV usage: beat, (X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.
Pronounce: naw-gah'
Origin: a primitive root
, when thou shalt say
'amar (Hebrew #559)
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV usage: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.
Pronounce: aw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
, Iq have no pleasure
chephets (Hebrew #2656)
pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)
KJV usage: acceptable, delight(-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly.
Pronounce: khay'-fets
Origin: from 2654
in them;
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Isa. 26:8• 8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, have we waited for thee; to thy name and to thy memorial [is] the desire of [our] soul. (Isa. 26:8)
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2 Sam. 19:35• 35I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? (2 Sam. 19:35)

More on:

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Creator,
Year

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-7:  The Creator is to be remembered in due time.
8-12:  The preacher's care to edify.
13-14:  The fear of God is the chief antidote of vanity.
Remember.
Eccl. 11:10• 10Then remove discontent from thy heart,{HR}And put away evil from thy flesh;{HR}For childhood and youth are vanity. (Eccl. 11:10)
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Gen. 39:2,8‑9,23• 2And Jehovah was with Joseph; and he was a prosperous man, and he was in his master the Egyptian's house.
 8But he refused and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master takes cognizance of nothing with me: what is in the house, and all that he hath, he hath given to my hand.
 9None [is] greater in this house than I; nor hath he withheld from me anything but thee, because thou [art] his wife. And how should I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
 23The chief of the tower-house looked not to anything under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and what he did Jehovah made to prosper. (Gen. 39:2,8‑9,23)
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1 Sam. 1:28• 28Therefore also I have lent him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there. (1 Sam. 1:28)
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1 Sam. 2:18,26• 18And Samuel ministered before Jehovah, a boy girded with a linen ephod.
 26But the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with Jehovah, and also with men. (1 Sam. 2:18,26)
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1 Sam. 3:19‑21• 19And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.
 20And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah.
 21And Jehovah appeared again at Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Jehovah. (1 Sam. 3:19‑21)
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1 Sam. 16:7,12‑13• 7But Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth; for man looketh upon the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh upon the heart.
 12And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (1 Sam. 16:7,12‑13)
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1 Sam. 17:36‑37• 36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
 37And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah be with thee. (1 Sam. 17:36‑37)
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1 Kings 3:6‑12• 6And Solomon said, Thou hast shown unto thy servant David my father great loving-kindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great loving-kindness, that thou hast given him a son who sits upon his throne, as it is this day.
 7And now, Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child: I know not to go out and to come in.
 8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
 9Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?
 10And the word pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
 11And God said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself discernment to understand judgment;
 12behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there hath been none like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. (1 Kings 3:6‑12)
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1 Kings 14:13• 13And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Jehovah God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. (1 Kings 14:13)
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1 Kings 18:12• 12And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of Jehovah shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I, thy servant, fear Jehovah from my youth. (1 Kings 18:12)
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2 Chron. 34:2‑3• 2And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand nor to the left.
 3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. (2 Chron. 34:2‑3)
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Psa. 22:9‑10• 9For thou [art] he that didst bring me forth from the womb,{HR}Causing me to trust upon the breasts of my mother.
 10Upon thee was I cast from the womb;{HR}From the belly of my mother thou [art] my God. (Psa. 22:9‑10)
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Psa. 34:11• 11Come, ye children, hearken unto me:{HR}I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. (Psa. 34:11)
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Psa. 71:17‑18• 17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,{HR}And hitherto do I show thy wondrous works.
 18Yea also unto old age and grey hairs,{HR}O God, forsake me not,{HR}Until I declare, thine arm to a generation,{HR}Thy might to every one that is to come. (Psa. 71:17‑18)
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Prov. 8:17• 17I love those that love me;{HR}And they that seek me early shall find me. (Prov. 8:17)
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Prov. 22:6• 6Train up the child in accordance with his course;{HR}And when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Prov. 22:6)
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Isa. 26:8• 8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, have we waited for thee; to thy name and to thy memorial [is] the desire of [our] soul. (Isa. 26:8)
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Lam. 3:27• 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (Lam. 3:27)
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Dan. 1:8‑9,17• 8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself.
 9And God granted Daniel favour and mercy before the prince of the eunuchs.
 17As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Dan. 1:8‑9,17)
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Luke 1:15• 15He shall be great before [the] Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with [the] Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. (Luke 1:15)
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Luke 2:40‑52• 40And the child grew and waxed strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
 41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
 42And when he was twelve years old, and they went up [to Jerusalem] according to the custom of the feast,
 43and when they had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew not [of it];
 44but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances:
 45and not having found him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
 46And it came to pass, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them, and asking them questions.
 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers.
 48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed.
 49And he said to them, Why [is it] that ye have sought me? Did ye not know that I ought to be [occupied] in my Father's business?
 50And they understood not the thing that he said to them.
 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
 52And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men. (Luke 2:40‑52)
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Luke 18:16• 16But Jesus calling them to [him] said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:16)
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Eph. 6:4• 4And, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in [the] Lord's discipline and admonition. (Eph. 6:4)
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2 Tim. 3:15• 15and that from a babe thou knowest the sacred writings that are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:15)
while.
Eccl. 11:8• 8But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all,{HR}Yet let him remember the days of darkness;{HR}For they shall be many: all that cometh is vanity.{HR} (Eccl. 11:8)
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Job 30:2• 2Even the strength of their hands, what [was] it to me? (Job 30:2)
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Psa. 90:10• 10The days of our years! in them [are] seventy years,{HR}And if by strength eighty years,{HR}Even their pride [is] trouble and mischief;{HR}For it is soon gone, and we fly away. (Psa. 90:10)
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Hos. 7:9• 9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are sprinkled about on him, and he knoweth it not. (Hos. 7:9)
when.
2 Sam. 19:35• 35I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? (2 Sam. 19:35)
• This counsel must not be separated from the context. It is based absolutely and altogether on what has now been discerned: for not only is our writer a man of the acutest intelligence, but he evidently possesses the highest qualities of moral courage. He shirks no question, closes his eyes to no fact, and least of all to that awful fact of man’s compulsory departure from this scene which is called “death.” But following on, he has found that even this cannot possibly be all; there must be a judgment that shall follow this present life. It is in view of this he counsels “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” whilst the effect of time is to mature, and not destroy, the powers He has given thee: for not forever will life’s enjoyment last; old age comes surely, and He who made thee, holds thy spirit in His hand, so that whilst the body may return to dust, the spirit must return to Him who gave it. (“Ecclesiastes 12” by F.C. Jennings)

J. N. Darby Translation

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And remember thy Creatorb in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

JND Translation Notes

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b
"Creator" is in the plural.

W. Kelly Translation

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Remember also thy Creator(s) in the days of thy youth{HR}Before the evil days come,{HR}And the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say,{HR}I have no pleasure in them;