Ecclesiastes 12:5

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Preacher addresses Israel in the concluding exhortation of his discourse on aging, describing the physical decline that precedes death. He speaks to a general audience confronting the inevitable fading of their own faculties.

The words — The Hebrew יִרָ֙אוּ֙ (yi.Ra'u) translates literally as "they will be afraid," paired with וְ/חַתְחַתִּ֣ים (ve./chat.cha.Tim), meaning "and terrors." These terms describe the sudden dread that accompanies the aging body's failure.

The thread — The theme of approaching death and mourning appears in Job 17:13, Job 30:23, and Jeremiah 9:17. These passages similarly link the certainty of death with the gathering of mourners or the descent to Sheol.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that physical decay and fear are inevitable precursors to death. It requires the reader to confront mortality plainly before the moment of passing arrives.

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

גַּ֣םgamalso מִגָּבֹ֤הַּmi./ga.Vo.ahfrom/ a high [place]יִרָ֙אוּ֙yi.Ra.'upeople will be afraid וְחַתְחַתִּ֣יםve./chat.cha.Timand/ terrors בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba./De.rekh[are] in the/ way וְיָנֵ֤אץve./ya.Netzand/ it may blossom הַשָּׁקֵד֙ha./sha.Kedthe/ almond tree וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣לve./yis.ta.Belso/ it may drag itself along הֶֽחָגָ֔בhe./cha.Gavthe/ grasshopper וְתָפֵ֖רve./ta.Ferand/ it may fail הָֽאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑הha./'a.vi.yo.Nahthe/ caper-berry כִּֽי־ki-for הֹלֵ֤ךְho.Lekh[is] going הָאָדָם֙ha./'a.Dam<the>/ humankind אֶל־'el-to בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of עוֹלָמ֔וֹo.la.M/operpetuity/ its וְסָבְב֥וּve./sa.ve.Vuand/ they will go about בָשּׁ֖וּקva./Shukin the/ street הַסֹּפְדִֽים׃ha./so.fe.Dimthe/ mourners

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Job 17:13 If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
Job 30:23 Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
Jeremiah 9:17 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them.
Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Genesis 50:3 taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
Leviticus 19:32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
Job 15:10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side—men much older than your father.
Psalms 49:10 For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
Psalms 71:18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Genesis 42:38 But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”