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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 12:3–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

8 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 3

  1. Psalms 90:9–10Rank 1 from verse 3
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    9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

    10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

  2. Psalms 102:23Rank 2 from verse 3
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    23He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

  3. 1 Samuel 3:2Rank 3 from verse 3
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    2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

  4. 2 Samuel 21:15–17Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    15¶ Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

    16And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

    17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

  5. Genesis 27:1Rank 5 from verse 3
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    1AND it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

From verse 4

  1. Jeremiah 25:10Rank 1 from verse 4
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    10Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

  2. 2 Samuel 19:35Rank 2 from verse 4
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    35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

  3. Revelation 18:22Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 12:3

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

keepers

↗

Persons who guard, watch, protect, tend, manage, maintain, or preserve a place, person, charge, home, gate, vineyard, or prisoner.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

strong

↗

Having great power, might, firmness, courage, capacity, influence, defence, health, intensity, or ability to act, endure, resist, overcome, or support.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bow

↗

Sense 1: A weapon for shooting arrows. Sense 2: The bow set in the cloud as a covenant token. Sense 3: To bend or incline the head, knees, face, or body downward in reverence, respect, submission, or worship.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

cease

↗

To stop or leave off, to come to an end, or to cause something to stop or end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

look

↗

Sense 1: To direct the eyes or attention; to behold, observe, expect, or take heed. Sense 2: An appearance, countenance, expression, or aspect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

windows

↗

Sense 1: Openings in walls or structures that admit light, air, sight, or passage. Sense 2: Figures of openings in heaven.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

darkened

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of darken. Sense 1: To make dark or deprive of light. Sense 2: To obscure in understanding.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 12:4

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shut

↗

To close, fasten, block, confine, stop, exclude, or make inaccessible.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sound

↗

Sense 1: Sound: an audible noise, voice, report, or message. Sense 2: As an adjective, healthy, whole, firm, or free from error. Sense 3: As a verb, to make a noise, play or blow an instrument, or give a signal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

grinding

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of grind, meaning to crush or reduce by friction; to sharpen or wear down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

low

↗

Sense 1: Not high; beneath in place, rank, amount, strength, or condition. Sense 2: Humble or brought down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rise

↗

To get up, stand, ascend, increase, begin, appear, come forth, awaken, proceed to act or oppose, attain authority, or return from the dead.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

musick

↗

1. Vocal or instrumental sound or performance. 2. Instruments or performers of musick. 3. Figuratively, a person made the subject of song or ridicule.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Ecclesiastes 12:1–7

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

12:1REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

12:2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

12:3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

Selected passage

12:4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

Selected passage

12:5Also 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:

12:6Or 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.

12:7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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