Ecclesiastes 12:13

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הָאָדָֽם׃

Transliteration

Sôp dāḇār ha-kōl nišmāʿ ʾet-hā-ʾĕlōhîm yərāʾ wə-ʾet-miṣwōtāyw šəmôr kî-zeh kāl-hā-ʾādām

Grammar Details

*sôp*: noun, masculine singular construct - end of
*dāḇār*: noun, masculine singular - word/matter/thing
*kōl*: noun, masculine singular - all/everything
*nišmāʿ*: niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - is heard/has been heard
*ʾet*: direct object marker
*ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural - God
*yərāʾ*: qal imperative, masculine singular - fear
*miṣwōtāyw*: noun, feminine plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his commandments
*šəmôr*: qal imperative, masculine singular - keep/observe
*kî*: conjunction - for/because
*zeh*: demonstrative pronoun - this
*ʾādām*: noun, masculine singular - man/mankind/humanity

Word Meanings

*sôp* *dāḇār*: end of the matter/conclusion of everything
*kî*-*zeh* kāl-hā-*ʾādām*: for this is the whole of man/this is what it means to be human/this is man's all

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Deut 10:12 : 12 And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Eccl 5:7 : 7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
Deut 6:2 : 2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Eccl 8:12 : 12 Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
Mic 6:8 : 8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Luke 1:50 : 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.
Eccl 6:12 : 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Prov 19:23 : 23 The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
Job 28:28 : 28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.
Ps 111:10-112:1 : 10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: His praise endureth for ever. 1 Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Deut 4:2 : 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.
Ps 145:19 : 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
Ps 147:11 : 11 Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.
Prov 1:7 : 7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Gen 22:12 : 12 And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.
Ps 115:13-15 : 13 He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great. 14 Jehovah increase you more and more, You and your children. 15 Blessed are ye of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
Prov 23:17 : 17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:
1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Rev 19:5 : 5 And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, {G2532} ye that fear him, the small and the great.
Eccl 2:3 : 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 12:14
78%
14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Eccl 12:12
77%
12And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Eccl 3:10-15
6 verses
74%
10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
11He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.
15That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
Ps 111:10
73%
10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: His praise endureth for ever.
Eccl 12:7-8
2 verses
73%
7and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl 7:18
71%
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
Job 5:27
71%
27Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
Job 28:28
71%
28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.
Ps 112:1
71%
1Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Prov 19:23
71%
23The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
Eccl 3:22
70%
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Prov 14:12
70%
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
Eccl 8:5
70%
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment:
Job 34:15-16
2 verses
69%
15All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
16If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
Eccl 11:8-9
2 verses
69%
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Eccl 1:13
69%
13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
Ps 90:12
69%
12So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.
Eccl 6:11-12
2 verses
69%
11Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 3:20
69%
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Eccl 9:1
69%
1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.
Eccl 9:10
69%
10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.
Ps 64:9
69%
9And all men shall fear; And they shall declare the work of God, And shall wisely consider of his doing.
Deut 10:13
69%
13to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Eccl 2:24
68%
24There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
Eccl 1:2-3
2 verses
68%
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Prov 9:10
68%
10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Ps 33:8
68%
8Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Deut 12:32
68%
32What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Eccl 8:2
68%
2I [counsel thee], Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God.
1 Sam 12:24
68%
24Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
Eccl 7:2
68%
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
Eccl 5:7
68%
7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
Eccl 12:1
68%
1Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Eccl 1:9
68%
9That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Eccl 8:12
68%
12Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
Eccl 5:18
68%
18Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.
Dan 12:13
68%
13But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.
Prov 13:13
67%
13Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Ps 19:9
67%
9The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether.
Eccl 9:3
67%
3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.