Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 
Day 
Day 165

"When the grinders cease because they are few"

Text: Ecclesiastes 12:3

POIGNANT IMAGERY

Solomon was skilled in the choice of imagery. The next few verses describe an aged person (Ecclesiastes 12:3-5).

“In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim.”
Ecclesiastes 12:3

1. “In the day when the keepers of the house tremble”

a) The upkeep of a house is done by the arms and hands.

b) They are thus called “keepers of the house”.

c) In advancing age, the arms and hands become weak.

d) They become so weak that with exertion they tremble.

2. “And the strong men bow down”

a) The act of bowing is associated with the knees and legs.

b) The strength of a person was measured by how far he can walk.

c) Hence, the strong men would be a reference to the knees and legs.

d) With age, the strong men will bow down (buckle) in long journeys.

3. “When the grinders cease because they are few”

a) The grinders would be an obvious reference to the teeth.

b) With age (in the ancient days), teeth are lost.

c) With lesser teeth, there is also less eating done.

d) In time, the desire to eat can diminish significantly.

4. “And those that look through the windows grow dim”

a) This is a reference to the eyes.

b) With advancing age, the eyesight can be affected adversely.

c) The eyes grow dimmer with the passing of the years.

5. A grim description

a) This is a grim description of what would happen when one grows old.

b) However, this is a general description. It does not mean that every detail would apply to every old person.

c) There are always exceptions to the rule!