Ecclesiastes 12:11

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

דִּבְרֵ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ כַּדָּ֣רְבֹנ֔וֹת וּֽכְמַשְׂמְר֥וֹת נְטוּעִ֖ים בַּעֲלֵ֣י אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת נִתְּנ֖וּ מֵרֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃

Transliteration

Diḇrê ḥăḵāmîm ka-dārbōnôt u-ḵə-masməəôt nəṭûʿîm baʿălê ʾăsuppôt nittənû mē-rōʿeh ʾeḥād

Grammar Details

• *diḇrê*: noun, masculine plural construct - words of
• *ḥăḵāmîm*: adjective, masculine plural - wise men/sages
• *dārbōnôt*: noun, masculine plural - goads/ox goads
• *masməəôt*: noun, feminine plural - nails/pegs
• *nəṭûʿîm*: niphal participle, masculine plural - planted/fastened
• *baʿălê*: noun, masculine plural construct - masters of
• *ʾăsuppôt*: noun, feminine plural - collections/assemblies
• *nittənû*: niphal perfect, 3rd person plural - they were given
• *rōʿeh*: qal participle, masculine singular - shepherd
• *ʾeḥād*: adjective, masculine singular - one

Word Meanings

• *dārbōnôt*: goads/prods (pointed sticks to direct oxen)
• *baʿălê* *ʾăsuppôt*: masters of collections/collectors of sayings/compilers
• *rōʿeh* *ʾeḥād*: one shepherd (possibly God or a master teacher)

Referenced Verses

• Ps 80:1 : 1 For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that sittest [above] the cherubim, shine forth.
• Isa 22:23 : 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a throne of glory to his father's house.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, [and] will gently lead those that have their young.
• Ezek 34:23 : 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
• John 10:14 : 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,
• Acts 2:37 : 37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, {G435} Brethren, what shall we do?
• 2 Cor 10:4 : 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
• Heb 4:12 : 12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Heb 13:20 : 20 Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, [even] our Lord Jesus,
• 1 Pet 5:4 : 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
• Matt 3:7 : 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• John 3:10 : 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?
• Jer 23:29 : 29 Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
• Prov 1:6 : 6 To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
• Prov 22:17 : 17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
• Gen 49:24 : 24 But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
• Ezra 9:8 : 8 And now for a little moment grace has been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
• Ps 23:1 : 1 A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.