Ecclesiastes 12:6

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.

Or ever {H3808} the silver {H3701} cord {H2256} be loosed {H7576}{H7368}, or the golden {H2091} bowl {H1543} be broken {H7533}, or the pitcher {H3537} be broken {H7665} at the fountain {H4002}, or the wheel {H1534} broken {H7533} at the cistern {H953}.

before the silver cord is snapped the bowl of gold is cracked, the pitcher is shattered at the spring, the pulley is broken at the cistern,

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,

before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

Ecclesiastes 12:6 is a profound and poetic verse that continues the Preacher's poignant description of the aging process and the inevitability of death. It uses rich, symbolic imagery to illustrate the cessation of life, urging the reader to consider their mortality and remember their Creator before the body fails.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Ecclesiastes chapter 12 where the wise Teacher (Koheleth) vividly describes the decline of the human body in old age. Beginning with a call to "remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1), the chapter uses a series of metaphors to depict failing senses, weakened limbs, and the general breakdown of physical faculties, all leading to the ultimate conclusion of life on earth. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the moment life departs, using symbols of vital systems failing.

Key Themes

  • The Fragility and Transience of Life: The verse powerfully conveys that human life, despite its complexities, is delicate and impermanent. Like easily broken objects, our physical existence can cease abruptly.
  • The Inevitability of Death: Each image points to the irreversible end of physical life. There is no escape from this universal appointment for humanity, a theme echoed in Job 30:23.
  • Symbolic Representation of Bodily Systems: The imagery likely refers to various vital functions or parts of the human body:
    • "silver cord": Often interpreted as the spinal cord, or the thread of life connecting the soul to the body. Its loosening signifies the breaking of this vital connection.
    • "golden bowl": Possibly refers to the skull or brain, the vessel of consciousness and thought. Its breaking represents the cessation of mental activity or life itself.
    • "pitcher... at the fountain" and "wheel... at the cistern": These metaphors vividly describe the failure of the circulatory system or other life-sustaining functions. The pitcher draws water (life) from the fountain (source of life), and the wheel draws from the cistern (reservoir). When these are broken, the ability to sustain life ceases.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text employs rich, poetic parallelism and vivid imagery. The terms used, such as chevel hakesef (silver cord) and gulgal hazahav (golden bowl), evoke preciousness and fragility. The breaking of these items signifies not just damage, but complete ruin, rendering them useless for their intended purpose. This emphasizes the finality of physical death.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 12:6 serves as a profound memento mori, a reminder of death. It compels us to reflect on the brevity of our earthly existence and the importance of how we live. The Preacher's ultimate conclusion in this book is to "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Understanding the transient nature of life, as depicted in this verse, should motivate us to prioritize spiritual matters, seek wisdom, and live purposefully in light of our Creator, rather than chasing after the fleeting "vanity" of worldly pursuits. It underscores the urgency of making peace with God before the "dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Zechariah 4:2

    And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof:

  • Zechariah 4:3

    And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [side] thereof.

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