Bible Question:  Ecclesiastes 12:3 refers to the "keepers of the house" and Ecc. 12:5 refers to the "almond tree." What does this mean?   Bible Answer:  Here are the passages of scripture you are referring to.     . . . in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms . . . (NASB) Ecclesiastes 12:3-5         Meanings. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 is about something that will happen to all of us, unless Jesus Christ returns first. It is about death. The passage is a reminder that after this short time here, there is an eternity after the heart stops beating and our brain has thought its last thought. This section of the Bible describes the physical problems of growing older. It is a warning that death is real. Here are the meanings of the symbols in this section.     Symbol Meaning Passage   Sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened Face is not as bright Eccl. 12:2   Clouds return after the rain. One illness after another Eccl. 12:2   Watchmen of the house tremble. Legs are weak Eccl. 12:3   Mighty men stoop Back is weak Eccl. 12:3   Grinding ones stand idle because they are few Eating is slow because there are fewer teeth Eccl. 12:3   Look through windows grown dim Eyesight is poorer Eccl. 12:3   Doors on the street are shut Trouble speaking Eccl. 12:4   Sound of the grinding mill is low Hearing is poor Eccl. 12:4   Arise at the sound of the bird Trouble sleeping at night Eccl. 12:4   Afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road Fear of unknown and heights Eccl. 12:5   Almond tree blossoms Gray hair comes with age Eccl. 12:5   Grasshopper drags himself along Person hobbles along Eccl. 12:5   Caperberry is ineffective Sexual drive drops Eccl. 12:5   Silver cord is broken Spinal cord is broken Eccl. 12:6   Golden bowl is crushed Cranial cavity is crushed Eccl. 12:6   Pitcher by the well is shattered Urinary tract problems Eccl. 12:6   Wheel at the cistern is crushed Heart attack Eccl. 12:6   Conclusion:  After this short, earthly life we live forever.     . . . then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (NASB) Ecclesiastes 12:7   Jesus Christ has made it possible to live forever with God. God offers this to anyone who believes in Him .         < Back
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