Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 12:2
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Preacher addresses Israel, urging remembrance of the Creator during youth before the arrival of aging and adversity.
The words — The Hebrew עַד ('ad) translates to "until," and תֶחְשַׁךְ (tech.shakh) literally means "it will become dark."
The thread — The text describes darkened vision and returning clouds, a motif of physical decline also found in Isaiah 5:30, 1 Samuel 3:2, and 1 Samuel 4:15.
Why it lands — The passage demands immediate spiritual action while physical faculties remain intact, warning that delay will meet inevitable decline.
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
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 5:30 In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.
- 1 Samuel 3:2 And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.
- 1 Samuel 4:15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.
- 1 Samuel 4:18 As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.
- Genesis 27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
- Genesis 48:10 Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
- Psalms 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.
- Psalms 71:20 Though You have shown me many troubles and misfortunes, You will revive me once again. Even from the depths of the earth You will bring me back up.
- Psalms 77:16 The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.
- Ecclesiastes 11:7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.