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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 12:6 Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/21_Ecc_12_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 12:6 - Remember Your Creator" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/">Ecclesiastes</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Chapter 12</a> > Verse 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-5.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 12:5">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 12:6 <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-7.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 12:7">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br /><i>Remember your Creator</i> before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br /><i>Remember your Creator</i> before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br /><i>Remember Him</i> before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br /><i>Remember Him</i> before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is broken and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br /><i>Earnestly remember your Creator</i> before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The silver cord snaps, the golden bowl breaks; the water pitcher is smashed, and the pulley at the well is shattered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Remember your Creator before the silver cord is snapped, the golden bowl is broken, the pitcher is smashed near the spring, and the water wheel is broken at the cistern.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The silver chain will snap, and the golden lamp will fall and break; the rope at the well will break, and the water jar will be shattered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When the silver cord is severed, the golden vessel is broken, the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Or ever the silver cord shall be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />While that the silver cord is not removed, "" And the golden bowl broken, "" And the pitcher broken by the fountain, "" And the wheel broken at the well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Till when the cord of silver shall be removed far off, and the bowl of gold be broken, and the bucket shall be broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the pulley is broken at the well, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Remember him before the silver cord is cut off and the golden bowl is broken and the pitcher is broken at the fountain or the wheel is broken at the cistern,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Until the cord silver is cut and the gold bowl will be shattered, and the pitcher will be shattered over the fountain and the wheel will run over the well<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Before the silver cord is snapped asunder, And the golden bowl is shattered, And the pitcher is broken at the fountain, And the wheel falleth shattered, into the pit;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />before the silver cord be <i>let go</i>, or the choice gold be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=2183" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Remember Your Creator</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">Remember Him before</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3701.htm" title="3701: hak·ke·sep̄ (Art:: N-ms) -- Silver, money. From kacaph; silver; by implication, money.">the silver</a> <a href="/hebrew/2256.htm" title="2256: ḥe·ḇel (N-msc) -- A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin.">cord</a> <a href="/hebrew/7368.htm" title="7368: yir·ḥaq (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be or become far or distant. A primitive root; to widen, i.e. recede or remove.">is snapped</a> <a href="/hebrew/2091.htm" title="2091: haz·zā·hāḇ (Art:: N-ms) -- Gold. From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky.">and the golden</a> <a href="/hebrew/1543.htm" title="1543: gul·laṯ (N-fsc) -- A basin, bowl. Feminine from galal; a fountain, bowl or globe.">bowl</a> <a href="/hebrew/7533.htm" title="7533: wə·ṯā·ruṣ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf-3fs) -- To crush. A primitive root; to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively.">is crushed,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3537.htm" title="3537: kaḏ (N-fs) -- A jar. From an unused root meaning to deepen; properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes.">before the pitcher</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: wə·ṯiš·šā·ḇer (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjImperf-3fs) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">is shattered</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">at</a> <a href="/hebrew/4002.htm" title="4002: ham·mab·bū·a‘ (Art:: N-ms) -- A spring (of water). From naba'; a fountain.">the spring</a> <a href="/hebrew/1534.htm" title="1534: hag·gal·gal (Art:: N-ms) -- A wheel, whirl, whirlwind. By reduplication from galal; a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust.">and the wheel</a> <a href="/hebrew/7533.htm" title="7533: wə·nā·rōṣ (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To crush. A primitive root; to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively.">is broken</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">at</a> <a href="/hebrew/953.htm" title="953: hab·bō·wr (Art:: N-ms) -- A pit, cistern, well. From buwr; a pit hole.">the well,</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/14-7.htm">Job 14:7-12</a></span><br />For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail. / If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, / at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/90-5.htm">Psalm 90:5-6</a></span><br />You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— / in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-12.htm">Isaiah 38:12</a></span><br />My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-1.htm">2 Corinthians 5:1-4</a></span><br />For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/39-4.htm">Psalm 39:4-5</a></span><br />“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. / You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-14.htm">James 4:14</a></span><br />You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-15.htm">Psalm 103:15-16</a></span><br />As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-24.htm">1 Peter 1:24</a></span><br />For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-6.htm">Isaiah 40:6-8</a></span><br />A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm">2 Peter 3:10</a></span><br />But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-6.htm">Job 7:6-10</a></span><br />My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. / Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness. / The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-20</a></span><br />Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-33.htm">Luke 12:33-34</a></span><br />Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-7.htm">1 Timothy 6:7</a></span><br />For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/49-17.htm">Psalm 49:17</a></span><br />For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/18-18.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/28-17.htm">Bowl</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-15.htm">Cistern</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm">Cord</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-22.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-1.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-3.htm">Falleth</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-26.htm">Fountain</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-8.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/job/37-22.htm">Golden</a> <a href="/psalms/116-16.htm">Loosed</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-8.htm">Pit</a> <a href="/1_kings/17-14.htm">Pitcher</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-6.htm">Pot</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-1.htm">Remember</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-25.htm">Removed</a> <a href="/judges/4-11.htm">Severed</a> <a href="/psalms/107-16.htm">Shattered</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-19.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/judges/16-12.htm">Snapped</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-4.htm">Spring</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-23.htm">Vessel</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-19.htm">Wheel</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/24-19.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/songs/7-2.htm">Bowl</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-6.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-14.htm">Cistern</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-27.htm">Cord</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-14.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/songs/4-2.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-8.htm">Falleth</a> <a href="/songs/4-12.htm">Fountain</a> <a href="/songs/1-10.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-12.htm">Golden</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-14.htm">Loosed</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-15.htm">Pit</a> <a href="/mark/14-13.htm">Pitcher</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-16.htm">Pot</a> <a href="/songs/1-4.htm">Remember</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-2.htm">Removed</a> <a href="/galatians/5-4.htm">Severed</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-8.htm">Shattered</a> <a href="/songs/1-11.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-20.htm">Snapped</a> <a href="/songs/4-12.htm">Spring</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-16.htm">Vessel</a> <a href="/isaiah/28-27.htm">Wheel</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-1.htm">the Creator is to be remembered in due time</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-8.htm">The preacher's care to edify</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-13.htm">the fear of God is the chief antidote for vanity</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the urgency of remembering and honoring God before life comes to an end. The "silver cord" is often interpreted as a metaphor for the fragility of life, akin to a precious but delicate thread that can easily break. In biblical times, silver was a valuable metal, symbolizing something precious and beautiful, yet ultimately perishable. This imagery suggests the importance of spiritual readiness and the transient nature of earthly life. The call to "remember Him" aligns with the broader biblical theme of seeking God earnestly, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6</a>, which urges individuals to seek the Lord while He may be found.<p><b>and the golden bowl is crushed</b><br>The "golden bowl" can be seen as a symbol of life or the human spirit, valuable and beautiful but susceptible to destruction. Gold, like silver, was highly prized in ancient cultures, often used in religious artifacts and temple decorations, signifying purity and worth. The crushing of the bowl represents the end of life or the loss of vitality. This imagery echoes the biblical understanding of human mortality, as expressed in <a href="/psalms/103-15.htm">Psalm 103:15-16</a>, which compares human life to grass that flourishes and then fades. The phrase serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death and the importance of living a life devoted to God.<p><b>before the pitcher is shattered at the spring</b><br>The "pitcher" and "spring" imagery evokes the idea of a vessel used to draw water, a vital resource in the arid regions of the biblical world. The shattering of the pitcher signifies the cessation of life's sustenance and the end of one's ability to draw from the well of life. Water is a recurring symbol in Scripture, often representing life, cleansing, and spiritual renewal, as seen in <a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a>, where Jesus speaks of the living water that leads to eternal life. The breaking of the pitcher underscores the finality of death and the urgency of spiritual preparedness.<p><b>and the wheel is broken at the well</b><br>The "wheel" at the well likely refers to a mechanism used to draw water, essential for survival in ancient times. The breaking of the wheel signifies the end of life's journey and the cessation of daily activities. Wells were central to community life, serving as gathering places and sources of sustenance. This imagery highlights the disruption of life's routines and the ultimate return to dust, as described in <a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Genesis 3:19</a>. The phrase serves as a poignant reminder of human mortality and the need to prioritize one's relationship with God before life's inevitable end.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_preacher.htm">The Preacher (Qoheleth)</a></b><br>Traditionally identified as King Solomon, the Preacher is the author of Ecclesiastes, sharing wisdom and reflections on the meaning of life.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_silver_cord_and_golden_bowl.htm">The Silver Cord and Golden Bowl</a></b><br>Metaphorical imagery representing life and its fragility. The silver cord and golden bowl symbolize the preciousness and delicacy of life.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_pitcher_and_the_wheel.htm">The Pitcher and the Wheel</a></b><br>Additional metaphors for life, emphasizing the idea of life's eventual end and the cessation of daily activities.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_spring_and_the_well.htm">The Spring and the Well</a></b><br>Sources of water, symbolizing life and sustenance, which are disrupted when the pitcher and wheel are broken.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/death.htm">Death</a></b><br>The inevitable event that the imagery in this verse points towards, urging readers to remember God before life ends.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fragility_of_life.htm">The Fragility of Life</a></b><br>Life is precious and delicate, akin to a silver cord or golden bowl. We must cherish it and live with awareness of its temporary nature.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_urgency_of_remembering_god.htm">The Urgency of Remembering God</a></b><br>The call to "remember Him" emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God before life's end.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_inevitability_of_death.htm">The Inevitability of Death</a></b><br>The imagery of broken objects serves as a reminder of death's certainty, urging us to live with eternal perspectives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_wisdom.htm">The Value of Wisdom</a></b><br>Understanding life's brevity should lead us to seek wisdom and live purposefully, aligning our lives with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_with_purpose.htm">Living with Purpose</a></b><br>Recognizing life's fragility should inspire us to live intentionally, making choices that honor God and reflect His love.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 12</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_assyria_conquer_israel.htm">Why did Assyria conquer Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_israelites_learn_to_craft_gold.htm">Exodus 39:30-31: Where would Israelite artisans gain the advanced metallurgical knowledge to create the gold plate with the inscription 'Holy to the Lord'?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_verify_god's_words_as_flawless.htm">In Psalm 12:6, how can we scientifically verify that God's words are metaphorically 'flawless' like silver purified seven times?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_rev_4_4_elders_align_with_other_leaders.htm">How do the twenty-four elders from Revelation 4:4 align with or contradict other biblical notions of heavenly beings or leadership?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) <span class= "bld">Golden bowl.</span>--<a href="/zechariah/4-3.htm" title="And two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side thereof.">Zechariah 4:3</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Or ever</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> before, ere (<span class="accented">ad asher lo</span>). The words recall us to vers. 1 and 2, bidding the youth make the best use of his time ere old age cuts him off. In the present paragraph the final dissolution is described under two figures. <span class="cmt_word">The silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.</span> This is evidently one figure, which would be made plainer by reading "and" instead of "or," the idea being that the lamp is shattered by the snapping of the cord that suspended it from the roof. But there are some difficulties in the closer explanation of the allegory. The "bowl" (<span class="accented">gullah</span>) <span class="accented">is</span> the reservoir of oil in a lamp (see <a href="/zechariah/4-3.htm">Zechariah 4:3, 4</a>), which supplies nourishment to the flame; when this is broken or damaged so as to be useless, the light, of course, is extinguished. The Septuagint calls it <span class="greek">τὸ ἀνθέμιον τοῦ</span> <span class="greek">χρυσίον</span>: the Vulgate, <span class="accented">vitta aurea</span>, "the golden fillet," or flower ornament on a column, which quite sinks the notion of a light being quenched. The "cord" is that by which the lamp is hung in a tent or a room. But of what in man are these symbols? Many fanciful interpretations have been given. The "silver cord" is the spine, the nerves generally, the tongue; the "golden bowl" is the head, the membrane of the brain, the stomach. But these anatomical details are not to be adopted; they have little to recommend them, and are incongruous with the rest of the parable. The general break-up of life is here delineated, not the progress of destruction in certain organs or parts of the human frame. The cord is what we should call the thread of life, on which hangs the body lit by the animating soul; when the connection between these is severed, the latter perishes, like a fallen lamp lying crushed on the ground. In this our view the cord is the living power which keeps the corporeal substance from failing to ruin; the bowl is the body itself thus upheld. The mention of gold and silver is introduced to denote the preciousness of man's life and nature. But the analogy must not be pressed in all possible details. It is like the parables, where, if defined and examined too closely, incongruities appear. <span class="accented">We</span> should be inclined to make more of the lamp and the light and the oil, which are barely inferred in the passage, and endeavor to explain what these images import. Koheleth is satisfied with the general figure which adumbrates the dissolution of the material fabric by the withdrawal of the principle of life. What is the immediate cause of this dissolution, injury, paralysis, etc., is not handled; only the rupture is noticed and its fatal result. Another image to the same effect, though pointing to a different process, is added <span class="cmt_word">Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or</span> (<span class="accented">and</span>) <span class="cmt_word">the wheel broken at</span> (<span class="accented">in</span>) <span class="cmt_word">the cistern.</span> The picture here is a deep well or cistern with an apparatus for drawing water; this apparatus consists of a wheel or windlass with a rope upon it, to which is attached a bucket; the wheel fails, falls into the well, the bucket is dashed to pieces, and no water can be drawn. It is best to regard the two clauses as intended to convey one idea, as the two at the beginning of the verse were found to do. Some commentators, not so suitably, distinguish between the two, making the former clause say that the pitcher is broken on its road to or from the spring, and the latter that the draw-wheel gives way. The imagery, points to one notion which would be weakened by being divided into two. The motion of the bucket, the winding up and down, by which water is drawn from the well, is an emblem of the movements of the heart, the organs of respiration, etc. When these cease to act, life is extinct. The fraction of the cord and the demolition of the bowl denoted the separation of soul and body; the breaking of the pitcher and the destruction of the wheel signify the overthrow of the bodily organs by which vital motion is diffused and maintained, and the man lives. The expressions in the text remind one of the term, "earthen vessel," applied by St. Paul (<a href="/2_corinthians/4-7.htm">2 Corinthians 4:7</a>) to the human body; and "the fountain of life," "the water of life." so often mentioned in Holy Scripture as typical of the grace of God and the blessedness of life with him (see <a href="/psalms/36-9.htm">Psalm 36:9</a>; <a href="/proverbs/13-14.htm">Proverbs 13:14</a>; <a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10, 14</a>; <a href="/revelation/21-6.htm">Revelation 21:6</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">[Remember Him] before</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the silver</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכֶּ֔סֶף</span> <span class="translit">(hak·ke·sep̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3701.htm">Strong's 3701: </a> </span><span class="str2">Silver, money</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cord</span><br /><span class="heb">חֶ֣בֶל</span> <span class="translit">(ḥe·ḇel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2256.htm">Strong's 2256: </a> </span><span class="str2">A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is snapped,</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵרָתֵק֙</span> <span class="translit">(yê·rā·ṯêq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7368.htm">Strong's 7368: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become far or distant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the golden</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזָּהָ֑ב</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zā·hāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2091.htm">Strong's 2091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bowl</span><br /><span class="heb">גֻּלַּ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(gul·laṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1543.htm">Strong's 1543: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fountain, bowl, globe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is crushed,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְתָרֻ֖ץ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ṯā·ruṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7533.htm">Strong's 7533: </a> </span><span class="str2">To crack in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[before] the pitcher</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּד֙</span> <span class="translit">(kaḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3537.htm">Strong's 3537: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pail, earthenware, a jar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is shattered</span><br /><span class="heb">וְתִשָּׁ֤בֶר</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ṯiš·šā·ḇer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break, break in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the spring,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמַּבּ֔וּעַ</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mab·bū·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4002.htm">Strong's 4002: </a> </span><span class="str2">A spring (of water)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the wheel</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגַּלְגַּ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gal·gal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1534.htm">Strong's 1534: </a> </span><span class="str2">A wheel, a whirlwind, dust</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is broken</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנָרֹ֥ץ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nā·rōṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7533.htm">Strong's 7533: </a> </span><span class="str2">To crack in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the well,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַבּֽוֹר׃</span> <span class="translit">(hab·bō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_953.htm">Strong's 953: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pit, cistern, well</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 12:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 12:6 Before the silver cord is severed (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 12:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 12:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/12-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 12:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 12:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>