the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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World English Bible
Ecclesiastes 12:11
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The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
For the wordes of the wyse are like prickes and nayles that go thorowe, of the auctoures of gatheringes [which] are geuen of one shephearde.
The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections [of them] as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars [fn] are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are as goads; yea, as nails driven by the masters of collections, they are given from one Shepherd.
Words from the wise are like sharp goads. When these sayings are written down and saved, they can be used to guide people, just as a shepherd uses a sharp stick to make his sheep go the right way.
The wordes of the wise are as goads, and as nailes fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are giuen from one shepheard.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
For the wordes of ye wyse are like prickes and nales that go thorow, wherwith men are kepte together: for they are geuen of one shepherde onely.
The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.
The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.
Words of wisdom are like the stick a farmer uses to make animals move. These sayings come from God, our only shepherd, and they are like nails that fasten things together.
The sayings of the wise are as sharp as goads, and those given by leaders of assemblies are like well-fixed nails; [in this case,] they are presented by a single shepherd.
The wordes of the wise are like goads, and like nailes fastened by the masters of the assemblies, which are giuen by one pastour.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened, which are arranged by workmen and given from one master builder.
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are those that are composed in collections; they are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
The words of wise men are like a stick. Their gathered sayings are like well-driven nails given by one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.
The words of the wise, are as goads, yea, as driven nails, their well-ordered sayings, - given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like cattle goads; the collections of the sages are like pricks inflicted by one shepherd.
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd.
The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all.
The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.
The wordis of wise men ben as prickis, and as nailis fastned deepe, whiche ben youun of o scheepherde bi the counsels of maistris.
The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd.
Words of the wise [are] as goads, and as fences planted [by] the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
as goads: Jeremiah 23:29, Matthew 3:7, Acts 2:37, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Hebrews 4:12
masters: John 3:10
given: Genesis 49:24, Psalms 23:1, Psalms 80:1, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:14, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:4
Reciprocal: Exodus 27:19 - all the pins thereof Exodus 38:20 - the pins 1 Chronicles 26:15 - Asuppim Ezra 9:8 - a nail Job 6:25 - forcible Proverbs 1:6 - the words Isaiah 22:23 - I will Ezekiel 37:24 - one Luke 4:22 - the gracious John 10:2 - the shepherd John 10:16 - one shepherd
Cross-References
Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land.
Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." He built an altar there to Yahweh, who appeared to him.
It happened that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "My wife," lest, he thought, the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she was beautiful to look on.
Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.
There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Yahweh.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms From the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The words of the wise [are] as goads,.... As the goad teacheth the ox; so the Targum. Not the words of the wise philosophers of that age, or of ages before, or since; but of the inspired penmen of the Scriptures, as Moses, David, Solomon, and of others since; and of all good men, whose doctrines are agreeably to them; these are like "goads" or "pricks", sharp pointed sticks or staves, with which men push and prick their cattle, when driving them from place to place, or ploughing with them: and of a similar use are the doctrines of the word, when attended with a divine efficacy; these are a means of pricking sinners to the heart; and of laying open their vileness and sinfulness to them; and of repentance and contrition; and of awakening them from a sleep in sin to a sense of their danger; and even of killing them, as to their own sense and apprehension of things, and, with respect to their hopes of life, by their own works; as the Philistines were slain by Shamgar with an ox goad, Judges 3:31; see Acts 2:37; and these are also of use to the saints, as goads, to stir them up, when slothful, to the discharge of duty; and to awaken them, when drowsy, out of their carnal security; and to correct them for their faults, by sharp reproofs and rebukes; as well as to excite them to go on to perfection, who are apt to sit still and lie down; and to direct them to walk straight on, without turning to the right hand or left;
and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies; like these are the truths and doctrines of the word, when they have a place in the heart, and become the "ingrafted word" there; when they are "planted" e in the soul, as the word signifies; when they are fixed in the mind and memory, and dwell and abide there: and when as nails, driven into anything, fasten what they are drove into; so these are the means of fastening souls; of causing them to cleave to God and Christ; to the church, and his people, and to one another; and to the Gospel, and their profession of it; hence they are not like children, tossed to and fro, wavering and unstable: of all which "the masters of the assemblies" are the instruments; that is, ministers and pastors of churches. As there were assemblies for religious worship under the law, in which the prophets, priests, and Levites, assisted; so there are assemblies or churches under the Gospel dispensation, which are gathered and meet together for the service of God, and over these the ministers of the word preside; these are set over the churches in the Lord, and have the rule of them; though they are not to lord it over God's heritage, or have the dominion over their faith; but are helpers of their joy, and useful in the above things, through their ministry. Some choose to render "masters of collections", or "gatherings" f; and think it may respect their gathering truths out of the sacred writings, as the bee gathers honey out of the flowers; in allusion to those that gathered together the choice and pithy sentences and sayings of others, like the men of Hezekiah, Proverbs 25:1; or to undershepherds, gathering the sheep into the fold g, by the order of the principal one; who made use of goads, to drive away thieves or wild beasts; and nails, to preserve the sheepfold whole. And others think that not the words, but the of the assemblies themselves, are compared to "nails", and read them, "and the masters of the assemblies [are] as nails fastened" h; are well established, firm and sure; see Isaiah 22:23; and others take it to be no other than an epithet of the nails themselves, and render it, "as nails fixed, which are binders"; that is, great binding nails, which, being fixed in boards, bind, compact, and hold them together; to which the words of the wise may be compared, being the means of compacting and holding together the church of God, comparable to a sheepfold; hence mention is made of the shepherd in the next clause: or of fixing the attention of the minds of men unto them, and of retaining them in memory, and to which they speak of as first principles, and never swerve from them i; but, that not ministers, the instruments, but the principal and efficient cause, may have the glory, is added,
[which] are given from one Shepherd; not Zerubbabel, as Grotius; nor Moses, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Alshech; but Christ, the one Shepherd, set over the flock; and under whom the masters of assemblies, or pastors of churches, are, Ezekiel 37:23; from whom they have their gifts and qualifications, their mission and commissions; and are given to the churches, as pastors and teachers, to feed them, Ephesians 4:10; and from whom they have their food, the Gospel and the doctrines of it, to feed the flocks with, assigned to their care, John 17:8; though this is to be understood not to the exclusion of God, the Father of Christ, by whom all Scripture is inspired; nor of the Spirit, by whom holy men of God spake as they were moved, 2 Timothy 3:16.
e נטועים "plantati", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Rambachius. f בעלי אספות "auctores, vel dominos collectionum", Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus. g Vid. Lightfoot, vol. 2. p. 575. h "Veluti clavi. infixi sunt domini, vel magistri congregationum", Schmidt. i Vid. De Dieu & Cocceium in loc. & Vitringam de Synag. Vet. l. 1. par 2. c. 8. p. 377. & Hyde Not. in Peritzol. Itinera Mundi, p. 94.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
This passage is properly regarded as the Epilogue of the whole book; a kind of apology for the obscurity of many of its sayings. The passage serves therefore to make the book more intelligible and more acceptable.
Here, as in the beginning of the book Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, the Preacher speaks of himself Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 in the third person. He first repeats Ecclesiastes 12:8 the mournful, perplexing theme with which his musings began Ecclesiastes 1:2; and then states the encouraging practical conclusion Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 to which they have led him. It has been pointed out that the Epilogue assumes the identity of the Preacher with the writer of the Book of Proverbs.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
literally, Words of wise men are as goads, and as nails driven in (by) masters of assemblies; they are given from one shepherd: “goads,” because they rouse the hearer and impel him to right actions; “nails” (perhaps tent-spikes), because they remain fixed in the memory: “masters of assemblies” are simply “teachers” or “preachers” (see Ecclesiastes 1:1 note), instructors of such assemblies as Wisdom addresses Proverbs 1:20.
One shepherd - i. e., God, who is the supreme Giver of wisdom Proverbs 2:6, and the chief Shepherd Jeremiah 23:1-4. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:12-13.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
By these - i. e., “By the words of wise men.”
Books - Rather, “Writings.” Probably the proverbs current in the Preacher’s age, including, though not especially indicating, his own.
The Preacher protests against the folly of protracted, unprofitable, meditation.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
literally, “The conclusion of the discourse” (or “word,” = words, Ecclesiastes 1:1), “the whole, let us hear.”
The whole duty of man - Rather, the whole man. To revere God and to obey Him is the whole man, constitutes man’s whole being; that only is conceded to Man; all other things, as this book teaches again and again, are dependent on a Higher Incomprehensible Being.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Judgment with - Rather, judgment (which shall be held) upon etc.: i. e., an appointed judgment which shall take place in another world, as distinct from that retribution which frequently follows man’s actions in the course of this world, and which is too imperfect (compare Ecclesiastes 2:15; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 9:2, ...) to be described by these expressions. He that is fully convinced that there is no solid happiness to be found in this world, and that there is a world to come wherein God will adjudge people to happiness or misery respectively, as they have made their choice and acted here, must necessarily subscribe to the truth of Solomon’s conclusion, that true religion is the only way to true happiness.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 12:11. The words of the wise — Doctrines of faith, illustrated by suitable language, are as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, בעלי אספות baaley asuphoth, the masters of collections, those who had made the best collections of this kind, the matter of which was of the most excellent nature; every saying sinking as deeply into the mind, by the force of the truth contained in it, as a nail well pointed does into a board, when impelled by the hammer's force. These masters of collections have been supposed to be public persons appointed by the prince himself, the sole shepherd, to see that nothing was put into the people's hands but what would be profitable for them to read; and that, when any wise man gave public instructions, a good scribe sat by to take down the words; and then the master examined what he had written, to see that it was upright, and that the words were doctrines of truth. These were something like our licensers of the press; but the existence of such is little more than conjecture.
After all, masters of assemblies may mean public teachers; that which was written, the oracles of God, out of which they instructed the people; the one Shepherd, GOD ALMIGHTY, from whom they received their authority and unction to preach the truth; and by the energy of whose Spirit the heavenly teaching was fastened in their hearts, as a well-driven nail in a sound piece of wood.
