7
and the dustהֶעָפָרreturnsוְיָשֹׁבto the earthעַל הָאָרֶץas it was,כְּשֶׁהָיָהand the spiritוְהָרוּחַreturnsתָּשׁוּבto Elohimאֶל הָאֱלֹהִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרgave it.נְתָנָהּ
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Study it in the app“and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Ecclesiastes 12:7, word by word
- and the dustעָפָרafar
dust
Dry, loose earth, fine as dust; God formed man from it.
Where else “afar” appears- returnsיָשֹׁבyashov
return
To go back to a place.
Where else “yashov” appears- to the earthאָרֶץarets
ground
What is underfoot: bowing down to touch it.
Where else “arets” appears- as it wasהָיָהhaya
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “haya” appears- and the spiritרוּחַruach
spirit
What moves a person inside: their life, their mood.
Where else “ruach” appears- to Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohim” appears- gave itנְתָנָnetana
give
To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.
Where else “netana” appears
Translation note
“Spirit” (רוּחַ) is the same word that in 3:19, 21; 8:8 and 11:5 is translated “breath.” Cf. Genesis 2:7; 3:19.
The context
6before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is crushed, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken at the cistern;
7 · This verse (above)
8“Vapor of vapors,” says Qohelet; “everything is vapor.”