Bible Question:
Ecclesiastes 12:3 refers to the “keepers of the house” and Ecclesiastes 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 snapped or spirit departs | 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. Find out more on the page “Searching for God.”