Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Preacher (Qohelet) delivers this as the final word of Ecclesiastes, immediately after the summary charge in 12:13 to fear God and keep His commandments. It functions as the theological ground for that command.
The words — מַעֲשֶׂה (ma'aseh, "deed, act") is the object brought before judgment, while מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, "judgment, legal proceeding") names the setting in which it is weighed.
The thread — Paul echoes the same scope in 2 Corinthians 5:10 (receiving one's due for deeds done in the body) and Romans 2:16 (God judging secrets through Christ Jesus). Jesus narrows the principle to speech in Matthew 12:36 (account for every careless word).
Why it lands — The verse removes the assumption that private conduct escapes notice; judgment reaches the hidden as well as the open. It asks the reader to live as though no act, however concealed, is outside the reach of divine scrutiny.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Romans 2:16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Matthew 10:26 So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
- Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Luke 12:1 In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
- Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
- John 5:29 and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.