Ecc 12:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eccl 12:1-7: 12:1-7 This beautiful prose poem, which uses many metaphors in Hebrew, describes the torturous deterioration of aging (in continuation of 11:7-10 ). Summary for Eccl 12:1-2: 12:1-2 Don’t ... forget your Creator: Reverence for God can give wisdom (Prov 1:7 ) and guidance as to what will be beneficial in this life and pleasing to God at the judgment (Eccl 12:13-14 ). It is better to remember God when young, when wisdom can make a real difference in life’s results.

a12:1-7►

b11:7-10►

c12:1-2►

dProv 1:7►

eEccl 12:13-14►

f12:3►

g12:5►

h12:6►

iIsa 29:16►

jJer 19:1►

k10-11►

l22:28►

m2 Cor 4:7►

n12:7►

oGen 2:7►

p3:19►

qEccl 3:21►

‏ Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Summary for Eccl 12:1-7: 12:1-7 ^a This beautiful prose poem, which uses many metaphors in Hebrew, describes the torturous deterioration of aging (in continuation of 11:7-10 ^b).
Summary for Eccl 12:1-2: 12:1-2 ^c Don’t ... forget your Creator: Reverence for God can give wisdom (Prov 1:7 ^d) and guidance as to what will be beneficial in this life and pleasing to God at the judgment (Eccl 12:13-14 ^e). It is better to remember God when young, when wisdom can make a real difference in life’s results.
12:3 ^f The NLT translates the Hebrew metaphors (guards ... strong men ... servants ... women) and also provides an interpretation of these poetic elements (legs ... shoulders . . . teeth ... eyes).
12:5 ^g The caperberry was well known in the ancient Near East as an aphrodisiac.
12:6 ^h The silver cord and the golden bowl, like human life, are very valuable.

• The body is like a common earthen jar that is fragile and soon broken (cp. Isa 29:16 ⁱ; Jer 19:1 ^j, 10-11 ^k; 22:28 ^l; 2 Cor 4:7 ^m).
12:7 ⁿ the dust will return to the earth: See Gen 2:7 ^o; 3:19 ^p.

• That the spirit will return to God who gave it hints at belief in an afterlife (cp. Eccl 3:21 ^q; see thematic note for The Afterlife at end of chapter).