The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 12:12 Explained

Ecclesiastes 12:12

KJV: And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

YLT: And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Darby: And besides, my son, be warned by them: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

ASV: And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And further,  by these,  my son,  be admonished:  of making  many  books  [there is] no end;  and much  study  [is] a weariness  of the flesh. 

What does Ecclesiastes 12:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 - "the End Of The Matter"
This comparison of the human body to a house is extremely beautiful. The inference is obvious that our bodies are not ourselves, but only our tenement. Our sojourn in this world is on a lodger's tenure. The keepers of the house are, of course, the arms and hands. The grinding is low as in advancing life we lose our teeth. The door is the month, for in age we talk and laugh less, and our lips become compressed. The voice pipes and mutters. The almond tree, with its white blossoms, is, of course, an appropriate symbol of old age. The lamp of life finally falls with a crash on the floor, and the wheel is broken.
What, then, is the conclusion of the whole matter? This: that earthly delights are transient; that all this world can offer is an inn for a lodging-it is not our home; that the soul must go forth on its great quest at the hour of death; and that then the one all-important consideration will be, What has been its attitude toward God? Let us love God with the loving fear of grieving Him that casts out the fear which has torment. This is the whole matter; that is the one matter of overshadowing importance [source]

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 12

1  the Creator is to be remembered in due time
8  The preacher's care to edify
13  the fear of God is the chief antidote for vanity

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 12:12 mean?

And further by those my son be admonished of making books many [there is] no end and study much [is] wearisome to the flesh
וְיֹתֵ֥ר מֵהֵ֖מָּה בְּנִ֣י הִזָּהֵ֑ר עֲשׂ֨וֹת סְפָרִ֤ים הַרְבֵּה֙ אֵ֣ין קֵ֔ץ וְלַ֥הַג הַרְבֵּ֖ה יְגִעַ֥ת בָּשָֽׂר

וְיֹתֵ֥ר  And  further 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄותֵר  
Sense: superiority, advantage, excess adv.
מֵהֵ֖מָּה  by  those 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
בְּנִ֣י  my  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הִזָּהֵ֑ר  be  admonished 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: זָהַר 
Sense: to admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining.
עֲשׂ֨וֹת  of  making 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
סְפָרִ֤ים  books 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
הַרְבֵּה֙  many 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
אֵ֣ין  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
קֵ֔ץ  end 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֵץ  
Sense: end.
וְלַ֥הַג  and  study 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַהַג  
Sense: study, studying, devotion to study.
הַרְבֵּ֖ה  much 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
יְגִעַ֥ת  [is]  wearisome  to 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יְגִיעָה  
Sense: a wearing, a tiring.
בָּשָֽׂר  the  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.