Ecclesiastes 12:11

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

a. ASV: The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

b. YLT: Words of the wise are as goads, and as fences planted by the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.

c. Classic Amplified: The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed [in the mind] like nails are the collected sayings which are given [as proceeding] from one Shepherd.

d. Septuagint: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: The words of the wise are like goads, and the nails well driven are the sayings of the masters of collections, coming from one Shepherd

1. “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies…”

a. [The] words [Strong: 1697 dâbâr, daw-baw'; from H1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:—act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.]

b. [of the] wise [Strong: 2450 châkâm, khaw-kawm'; from H2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skillful or artful):—cunning (man), subtle, (un-), wise((hearted), man).]

c. [are as] goads [Strong:1861 dorbôwn, dor-bone'; (also dor-bawn'); of uncertain derivation; a goad:—goad.]

d. [and as] nails [Strong: 4930 masmᵉrâh, mas-mer-aw'; for H4548 feminine; a peg:—nail.]

e. fastened [Strong: 5193 nâṭaʻ, naw-tah'; a primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively):—fastened, plant(-er).]

f. [by the] masters [Strong: 1167 baʻal, bah'-al; from H1166; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense):— archer, babbler, bird, captain, chief man, confederate, have to do, dreamer, those to whom it is due, furious, those that are given to it, great, hairy, he that hath it, have, horseman, husband, lord, man, married, master, person, sworn, they of.]

g. [of] assemblies [Strong: 627 ʼăçuppâh, as-up-paw'; feminine of H624; a collection of (learned) men (only in the plural):—assembly.]

1). Matthew Henry: That which is written, and thus recommended to us, is of divine origin. Though it comes to us through various hands (many wise men, and many masters of assemblies), yet it is given by one and the same shepherd, the great shepherd of Israel, that leads Joseph like a flock, Ps. 80:1.

2). The words were given by the God of Israel, the words are the word of God, and they are spoken by the wise, by believers. They are described as nails well driven. We are to speak the word, we are not to stop speaking and meditating it.

a). Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

b). 2 Corinthians 4:13   We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 

2. “...which are given from one shepherd.”

a. [which are] given [Strong: 5414 nâthan, naw-than'; a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):—add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, × avenge, × be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, × doubtless, × without fail, fasten, frame, × get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), × have, × indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), lie, lift up, make, O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, × pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), sing, slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, × surely, × take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, weep, willingly, withdraw, would (to) God, yield.]

b. [from] one [Strong: 259  ʼechâd, ekh-awd'; a numeral from H258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:—a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), eleven, every, few, first, highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,]

c. shepherd [Strong: 7462 râʻâh, raw-aw'; a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend):—× break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.]

1). The Shepherd is the God of Israel.

a). Psalm 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

b). John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.