Bible Strands
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,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Teacher addresses humanity at the conclusion of his reflections, issuing a command before the physical decline outlined in the surrounding context. He speaks to all readers as the text transitions from signs of aging to the final moment of death.
The words — The Hebrew `עַד` ('ad) means "until," establishing the fixed deadline for the command. `חֶבֶל` (Che.vel) translates literally to "cord," identifying the specific object that will be snapped.
The thread — The verse is positioned between Ecclesiastes 12:5, which lists bodily decay, and Ecclesiastes 12:7, which records dust returning to the ground and the spirit returning to God. Zechariah 4:2 also mentions a golden bowl and lampstand, but does not include the cord imagery.
Why it lands — The text states that the reader must remember God while the body remains functional, using shattered vessels to mark the certainty of physical collapse. It demands immediate obedience before mortality makes the command impossible to fulfill.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Zechariah 4:2 “What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.