The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 12:7 Explained

Ecclesiastes 12:7

KJV: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

YLT: And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.

Darby: and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.

ASV: and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then shall the dust  return  to the earth  as it was: and the spirit  shall return  unto God  who gave  it. 

What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse describes the reversal of the process by which God originally created man ( Genesis 2:7; cf. Job 34:14-15; Psalm 104:29-30).

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 12:7 mean?

And will return the dust to the earth as it was and the spirit will return to God who gave it
וְיָשֹׁ֧ב הֶעָפָ֛ר עַל־ הָאָ֖רֶץ כְּשֶׁהָיָ֑ה וְהָר֣וּחַ תָּשׁ֔וּב אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְתָנָֽהּ

וְיָשֹׁ֧ב  And  will  return 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
הֶעָפָ֛ר  the  dust 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
כְּשֶׁהָיָ֑ה  as  it  was 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וְהָר֣וּחַ  and  the  spirit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
תָּשׁ֔וּב  will  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נְתָנָֽהּ  gave  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.