Ecclesiastes 12:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The subsequent verse, mentioning, ‘shall rise at the voice of a bird’ or ‘sparrow,’ can be understood to refer to sinners who, upon hearing the call of a bishop or presbyter, awaken through repentance. This phrase may also relate to the final resurrection, at which time the voice of the archangel will call forth the dead. We should not be surprised to liken the angel’s trumpet to a sparrow, for every voice pales in comparison to Christ's. I cannot recall having encountered a negative connotation associated with sparrows; as the righteous declare in Psalm 10, “In the Lord I trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain” (Psalms 10:1), and again, “I have watched and been as a sparrow alone upon the housetop” (Psalms 101:8), and once more, “For the sparrow hath found a house” (Psalms 83:4).

Moreover, the notion of closed doors in the streets may also symbolize the frailty of old age, depicting a man who cannot rise from his seat. The weakening voice of the craftsman signifies the elderly's struggle to chew, as their feeble voice becomes scarcely audible amidst their labored breathing. The imagery of rising at the sound of a bird represents the elderly who, when their blood has chilled and moisture has ebbed, are awakened by a faint noise, hurrying up at midnight with the crowing of a rooster, yet unable to move freely in bed. The phrase ‘they shall become numb,’ or as better rendered in Hebrew, ‘the daughters of song shall become deaf,’ pertains to the ears—indicating that the hearing of the aged becomes dulled, diminishing their ability to discern sounds and appreciate music, much like Vercellius mentions to David, who hesitated to cross the Jordan.

Additionally, “the golden bandage was not torn” (Ecclesiastes 12:6), symbolizing the golden Sun, akin to a well-known plant with multiple branches and leaves resembling rays of light. At the crow of the rooster, “they shall rise” (Ecclesiastes 12:4), experiencing fear from high places and terrors along the path (Ecclesiastes 12:5). What will be revealed? The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, causing all the tribes to mourn (Matt. 24:30, Zech. 12:12). What will transpire at the Lord’s coming? The almond tree will bloom, the grasshopper will become heavy, and the caper will be scattered (Eccl. 12:5). The blooming almond signifies, as commentators note, that winter has come to an end. Likewise, our bodies will blossom with the hues of heaven after winter has passed.

The daughters of song represent false prophets—mere echoes without substance, devoid of wisdom, knowledge, and illumination. They are termed daughters due to their lack of fortitude and their softness concerning immediate realities. Just as darkness dissipates in the presence of light (Ecclesiastes 12:4; LXX, Vulg), those who rise at the call of the bird—be it from the street, the Savior, or the divine teachers—reveal that which has no existence. Their teachings, valid only in the context of earthly life, reflect the transient nature of human wisdom, which may boast in oratory and rhetoric but will ultimately fade away. The sound will cease when the air comes to rest, as those spoken of as "humiliated" ascend to the realm beyond the air. The daughters of song will gain nothing, for they fail to recognize the true educators, referring instead to them as daughters of sound, while the authentic bearers of enlightenment are known as the sons of light and wisdom.

In that time, he must prepare to depart to his eternal dwelling (5), when the entire being is out of order, life comes to an end, and finally, when man returns to dust, surrendering his spirit to God (6 - 8).