Ecclesiastes 12:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Four images of precious things broken picture the fragile moment when life ends.
What Does Ecclesiastes 12:6 Mean?
The poem reaches its close with four pictures of breaking: a silver cord snapped, a golden bowl shattered, a pitcher cracked at the spring, a wheel broken at the well. Each is a vessel that once carried light or water, now ruined past use.
These are images of the body at the instant life departs, lovely things made of silver and gold yet fragile, easily and finally broken. The Preacher chooses costly metaphors on purpose, for human life is precious in God's sight even in its fragility. He urges us to remember our Maker before the cord is loosed, while there is still time to live for what does not break.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 12:6
What does Ecclesiastes 12:6 mean?
Four images of precious things broken picture the fragile moment when life ends.