Ecclesiastes 12:3 Meaning and Explanation
“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,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The aging body is pictured as a failing household: trembling hands, bowing legs, lost teeth, and dimming eyes.
What Does Ecclesiastes 12:3 Mean?
The poem now likens the body to a great house in decline. The trembling keepers are the hands and arms, the strong men that bow are the legs, the grinders that cease are the teeth grown few, and the darkened windows are the eyes losing their light.
With gentle artistry the Preacher names what age does to the frame each of us is given. He does not flinch from it, and neither should we, for the body is God's good gift even as it wears. To see our frailty clearly is to hold this life loosely and to lean on the One whose strength is made perfect in weakness, the God who promises to carry his own even to old age and gray hairs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 12:3
What does Ecclesiastes 12:3 mean?
The aging body is pictured as a failing household: trembling hands, bowing legs, lost teeth, and dimming eyes.