Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV,ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Here is, I. A call to young people to think of God, and mind their duty to him, when they are young: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. This is, 1. The royal preacher's application of his sermon concerning the vanity of the world and every thing in it. ?You that are young flatter yourselves with expectations of great things from it, but believe those that have tried it; it yields no solid satisfaction to a soul; therefore, that you may not be deceived by this vanity, nor too... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ,.... Or "Creators" F2 בוראיך "Creatorum tuorum", Drusius, Gejerus, Rambachius; so Broughton. ; as "Makers", Job 35:10 ; for more than one were concerned, as in the creation of all things in general, so of man in particular, Genesis 1:26 ; and these are neither more nor fewer than three; and are Father, Son, Spirit; the one God that has created men, Malachi 2:10 ; the Father, who is the God of all flesh, and the Father of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember thy Creator - בוראיך Boreeycha , thy Creators. The word is most certainly in the plural number in all our common Hebrew Bibles; but it is in the singular number, בוראך Borecha , in one hundred and seventy-six of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and ninety-six of De Rossi's; in many ancient editions; and in all the ancient versions. There is no dependence on the plural form in most of the modern editions; though there are some editions of great worth which exhibit the word in this form,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:1

The division into chapters is unfortunate here, as this verse is closely connected with Ecclesiastes 12:10 of the preceding chapter. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Set God always before thine eyes from thy earliest days; think who made thee, and what thou wast made for, not for self-pleasing only, not to gratify thy passions which now are strong; but that thou mightest use thy powers and energy in accordance with the laws of thy being as a creature of God's hands,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters.Creator - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, as just previously Ecclesiastes 11:9 fear of God as Judge. Godliness, acquired as a habit in youth, is recommended as the proper compensation for that natural cessation of youthful happiness which makes the days of old age more or less evil; more evil in proportion since there is less of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Ecclesiastes 12:1. Remember Namely, practically, so as to fear, love, and faithfully serve him, which, when men do not, they are said to forget him: thy Creator The first author and continual preserver of thy life and being, and of all the endowments and enjoyments which accompany it; to whom thou art under the highest and strongest obligations; and upon whom thou art constantly and necessarily dependant, and therefore to forget him is most unnatural and disingenuous. Now in the days of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Advice to young people (11:9-12:8)God’s will is that people enjoy life. In fact, they have a responsibility to do so. The writer urges young people especially to take note of this and not to misuse their mental or physical powers through developing wrong attitudes to life. However, their enjoyment of life must be according to a proper understanding of God and his character. They, like all others, are answerable to him for their behaviour (9-10).Young people should remember that God is the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 12:1

now = also. Creator. Plural of Majesty = the [great] Creator, or a reference to the Trinity. evil days = days of the misfortune: i.e. affliction and death. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 . i.e. the days described in following verses. pleasure. See note on Ecclesiastes 3:1 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1

THE GRAND CONCLUSION FOR ECCLESIASTES"This is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible."[1] Along with Ecclesiastes 11, and a few verses out of Ecclesiastes 10, we have here Solomon's conclusion. He had found his way out of the doubts and perplexities that for a time had confused him; and here (in these passages) he thunders the great doctrinal teachings of God's Word.So great is the importance of this chapter that we shall study it one verse at a time.Ecclesiastes 12:1"Remember now also... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Ecclesiastes 12:1. Remember now thy Creator, &c.— The first point to be examined is, where the description of old age given in this chapter begins. Most interpreters, who begin it with these words in the first verse, the years draw nigh, &c. or, at least, with the mention made Ecc 12:2 of the sun, light, moon, and stars being darkened, are at great pains to guess what particular infirmities of old age may be represented by each of these phaenomena of bad weather. But those pains might... read more