Charles Ellicott Commentary Ecclesiastes 12:11

"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." — Ecclesiastes 12:11 (ASV)

Words of the wise. —In this and the next verse, the weighty words of sages, such as Koheleth, are contrasted with the volubility of modern bookmakers. Though the general purpose of the verses is plain, the words used are enigmatic, and one cannot feel great confidence in assigning their precise meaning. The translation of our version fairly represents the original, if one observes that the words “by” and “which,” which determine the meaning, are in italics. With regard to the “nail,” compare Ezra 9:8; Isaiah 22:23.

The word “masters” has already appeared twice in this book in the sense of possessor: master of the tongue (Ecclesiastes 10:11) and master of wings (Ecclesiastes 10:20). The word “Assemblies” is not derived from the same root as Koheleth. It might mean collections of sayings as well as of people. It is difficult to assign any meaning to the last clause, except that the sages, to whom the verse refers, were given for the instruction of the people by Israel’s great Shepherd (Psalms 80:1).