The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
- KJV The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
- BSB The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
- NKJV The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.
- NASB The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Preacher aimed at words that were both pleasing and truthful, written with integrity. It assures us Scripture's wisdom is both beautiful and reliable.
Overview
The epilogue commends the Preacher's care to find "acceptable words" that were also upright and true, joining literary skill with honest accuracy. Biblical wisdom is meant to be winsome yet never compromise the truth, an apt model for all godly teaching. This union of grace and truth is perfectly fulfilled in Christ, who came "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Col 1:5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,
- 1 Tim 1:15The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- Prov 16:21–24The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
- Prov 8:6–10Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
- Prov 15:26Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
- Prov 1:1–6The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Prov 22:17–21Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
- Eccl 1:1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
- Luke 1:1–4Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
- John 3:11Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
- Eccl 1:12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 12:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.