Ecclesiastes 12:11

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by 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 To the chief Musician{H8764)} upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear{H8685)}, O Shepherd{H8802)} of Israel, thou that leadest{H8802)} Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest{H8802)} between the cherubims, shine forth{H8685)}.
• Isa 22:23 : 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with 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 know my sheep, and am known of mine.
• Acts 2:37 : 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
• 2 Cor 10:4 : 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
• Heb 4:12 : 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Heb 13:20 : 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
• 1 Pet 5:4 : 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
• Matt 3:7 : 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• John 3:10 : 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
• Jer 23:29 : 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
• Prov 1:6 : 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
• Prov 22:17 : 17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine 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 God of Jacob;(from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
• Ezra 9:8 : 8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD 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. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.