Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, etc.] Or “Creators”f270; as “Makers”, (<183510>Job 35:10 <19E902>Psalm 149:2 <235405>Isaiah 54:5); for more than one were concerned, as in the creation of all things in general, so of man in particular, (<010126>Genesis 1:26); and these are neither more nor fewer than three; and are Father, Son, Spirit; the one God that has created men, (<390210>Malachi 2:10); the Father, who is the God of all flesh, and the Father of spirits; the former both of the bodies and souls of men, (<243127>Jeremiah 31:27) (<581209>Hebrews 12:9); the Son, by whom all things are created;…”

“(Ecc 12:1-14) As Ecc 11:9-10 showed what youths are to shun, so this verse shows what they are to follow. Creator--"Remember" that thou art not thine own, but God's property; for He has created thee (Psa 100:3). Therefore serve Him with thy "all" (Mar 12:30), and with thy best days, not with the dregs of them (Pro 8:17; Pro 22:6; Jer 3:4; Lam 3:27). The Hebrew is "Creators," plural, implying the plurality of persons, as in Gen 1:26; so Hebrew, "Makers" (Isa 54:5). while . . . not--that is, before that (Pro 8:26) the evil days come; namely, calamity and old age, when one can no longer serve God, as in youth (Ecc…”

“Remember now - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters. Creator - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, as just previously Ecclesiastes 11:9 fear of God as Judge. Godliness, acquired as a habit in youth, is recommended as the proper compensation for that natural cessation of youthful happiness which makes the days of old age more or less evil; more evil in proportion since there is less of godliness in the heart, and less evil where there is more godliness. While the evil days come not - Rather, before the…”

“Now - For now thou art most able to do it; and it will be most acceptable to God, and most comfortable to thyself, as the best evidence of thy sincerity, and the best provision for old age and death. Evil days - The time of old age, which is evil; burdensome in itself, and far more grievous when it is loaded with the sad remembrance of youthful follies, and with the dreadful prospect of approaching death and judgment. No pleasure - My life Is now bitter and burdensome to me: which is frequently the condition of old age. Ecclesiastes 12:2”

“12:1-7 This beautiful prose poem, which uses many metaphors in Hebrew, describes the torturous deterioration of aging (in continuation of 11:7-10). 12:1-2 Don’t . . . forget your Creator: Reverence for God can give wisdom (Prov 1:7) and guidance as to what will be beneficial in this life and pleasing to God at the judgment (Eccl 12:13-14). It is better to remember God when young, when wisdom can make a real difference in life’s results.”

“Remember: Ecc 11:10; Gen 39:2, Gen 39:8, Gen 39:9, Gen 39:23; Sa1 1:28, Sa1 2:18, Sa1 2:26, Sa1 3:19-21, Sa1 16:7, Sa1 16:12, Sa1 16:13, Sa1 17:36, Sa1 17:37; Kg1 3:6-12, Kg1 14:13, Kg1 18:12; Ch2 34:2, Ch2 34:3; Psa 22:9, Psa 22:10; Psa 34:11, Psa 71:17, Psa 71:18; Pro 8:17, Pro 22:6; Isa 26:8; Lam 3:27; Dan 1:8, Dan 1:9, Dan 1:17; Luk 1:15, Luk 2:40-52, Luk 18:16; Eph 6:4; Ti2 3:15 while: Ecc 11:8; Job 30:2; Psa 90:10; Hos 7:9 when: Sa2 19:35 Ecclesiastes 12:2”

“With Ecc 12:1 (where, inappropriately, a new chapter begins, instead of beginning with Ecc 11:9) the call takes a new course, resting its argument on the transitoriness of youth: "And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, ere the days of evil come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say: I have no pleasure in them." The plur. majest. בּוראיך = עשׂים as a designation of the Creator, Job 35:10; Isa 54:5; Psa 149:2; in so recent a book it cannot surprise us, since it is also not altogether foreign to the post-bibl. language. The expression is warranted, and the Midrash ingeniously interprets the…”