The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 12:14 Explained

Ecclesiastes 12:14

KJV: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

YLT: For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.'

Darby: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

ASV: For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For God  shall bring  every work  into judgment,  with every secret thing,  whether [it be] good,  or whether [it be] evil. 

What does Ecclesiastes 12:14 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 12:14 mean?

For - every work God will bring into judgment Including secret thing Whether good or evil
כִּ֤י אֶת־ כָּל־ מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים יָבִ֥א בְמִשְׁפָּ֖ט עַ֣ל נֶעְלָ֑ם אִם־ ט֖וֹב וְאִם־ רָֽע

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יָבִ֥א  will  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בְמִשְׁפָּ֖ט  into  judgment 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
עַ֣ל  Including 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נֶעְלָ֑ם  secret  thing 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָלַם  
Sense: to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret.
אִם־  Whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
ט֖וֹב  good 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
רָֽע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.