Ecclesiastes 12:5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 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: | 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. | yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| also | גַּ֣ם | gam | H1571 | alsoגַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike |
| from a high [place] | מִגָּבֹ֤הַּ | mi-ga-VO-ah | H1364 | highגָּבֹהַּ (ga.vah) 1) high, proud 1a) high, lofty, tall 1b) exalted in station 1c) haughty, proud |
| people will be afraid | יִרָ֙אוּ֙ | yi-RA-'u | H3372G | to fearיָרֵא (ya.re) : frightening(DANGER) 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fear, be afraid 1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed 1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared 1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe 1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify 2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour |
| and terrors | וְחַתְחַתִּ֣ים | ve-chat-cha-TIM | H2849 | terrorחַתְחַת (chat.chat) terror |
| [are] in the way | בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ | ba-DE-rekh | H1870L | way: conductדֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) : conduct/lifestyle 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.) |
| and it may blossom | וְיָנֵ֤אץ | ve-ya-NETZ | H5006 | to spurnנָאַץ (na.ats) 1) to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor 1a) (Qal) to spurn, contemn 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spurn 1b2) to cause to contemn 1c) (Hiphil) to spurn 1d) (Hithpolel) to be contemned |
| the almond tree | הַשָּׁקֵד֙ | ha-sha-KED | H8247 | almondשָׁקֵד (sha.qed) 1) almond tree, almonds 1a) almond (the nut) 1b) almond-tree |
| so it may drag itself along | וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל | ve-yis-ta-BEL | H5445 | to bearסָבַל (sa.val) 1) to bear, bear a load, drag oneself along 1a) (Qal) to bear (a load) 1b) (Pual) laden (participle) 1c)(Hithpael) to make oneself a burden, drag oneself along Aramaic equivalent: se.val (סְבַל "to bear" H5446) |
| the grasshopper | הֶֽחָגָ֔ב | he-cha-GAV | H2284 | locustחָגָב (cha.gav) locust, grasshopper |
| and it may fail | וְתָפֵ֖ר | ve-ta-FER | H6565A | to breakפּוּר (pur) (Hiphil) to break, crush Another spelling of pa.rar (פָּרַר "to break" H6565A) |
| the caper-berry | הָֽאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה | ha-'a-vi-yo-NAH | H0035 | desireאֲבִיּוֹנָה (a.viy.yo.nah) caper-berry-of stimulating desire |
| for | כִּֽי־ | ki- | H3588A | forכִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore |
| [is] going | הֹלֵ֤ךְ | ho-LEKH | H1980G | to go: wentהָלַךְ (ha.lakh) : went/go[away] 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk |
| the humankind | הָאָדָם֙ | ha-'a-DAM | H0120G | manאָדָם (a.dam) 1) man, mankind 1a) man, human being 1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT) 1c) Adam, first man 1d) city in Jordan valley |
| to | אֶל־ | 'el- | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| [the] house of | בֵּ֣ית | beit | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| perpetuity its | עוֹלָמ֔וֹ | o-la-MO | H5769G | forever: enduringעוֹלָם (o.lam) : enduring/eternal 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity |
| and they will go about | וְסָבְב֥וּ | ve-sa-ve-VU | H5437G | to turn: turnסָבַב (sa.vav) : turn/bring_around 1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change 1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round 1b2) to be turned over to 1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform 1d) (Poel) 1d1) to encompass, surround 1d2) to come about, assemble round 1d3) to march, go about 1d4) to enclose, envelop 1e) (Hiphil) … |
| in the street | בָשּׁ֖וּק | va-SHUK | H7784 | streetשׁוּק (shuq) street |
| the mourners | הַסֹּפְדִֽים׃ | ha-so-fe-DIM | H5594 | to mournסָפַד (sa.phad) 1) to wail, lament, mourn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wail, lament 1a2) wailers (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be lamented, be bewailed |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.