Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 12:7–8
7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher.
“Everything is futile!”
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the dust | הֶעָפָ֛ר | he·‘ā·p̄ār | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H6083 dry earth, dust |
| returns | וְיָשֹׁ֧ב | wə·yā·šōḇ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| to | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the ground | הָאָ֖רֶץ | hā·’ā·reṣ | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H776 earth, land |
| from which it came | כְּשֶׁהָיָ֑ה | kə·še·hā·yāh | Preposition-k, Pronoun - relative; Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| and the spirit | וְהָר֣וּחַ | wə·hā·rū·aḥ | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - common singular | H7307 breath, wind, spirit |
| returns | תָּשׁ֔וּב | tā·šūḇ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | H7725 turn back, return |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| God | הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים | hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| who | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ’ă·šer | Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| gave it | נְתָנָֽהּ׃ | nə·ṯā·nāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singular | H5414 give, put, set |
Ecclesiastes 12:8
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futility | הֲבֵ֧ל | hă·ḇêl | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1892 vapour, breath |
| of futilities | הֲבָלִ֛ים | hă·ḇā·lîm | Noun - masculine plural | H1892 vapour, breath |
| says | אָמַ֥ר | ’ā·mar | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| the Teacher | הַקּוֹהֶ֖לֶת | haq·qō·w·he·leṯ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H6953 collector |
| Everything | הַכֹּ֥ל | hak·kōl | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3605 the whole, all |
| is futile | הָֽבֶל׃ | hā·ḇel | Noun - masculine singular | H1892 vapour, breath |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Daniel 12:2 · Ecclesiastes 3:20–21 · Psalm 146:4 · Genesis 3:19 · Job 34:14–15 · Zechariah 12:1 · Isaiah 57:16 · Genesis 2:7 · Numbers 16:22 · Job 20:11 · Numbers 27:16 · Psalm 90:3
Ecclesiastes 12:8 Ecclesiastes 1:2 · Ecclesiastes 8:8 · Ecclesiastes 6:12
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.