Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

12:6 before the silver cord is removed,

or the golden bowl is broken,

or the pitcher is shattered at the well, ¹ 

or the water wheel ²  is broken at the cistern –

12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,

and the life’s breath ³  returns to God who gave it.

[12:6]  ¹ tn Heb “water-spring.”

[12:6]  ² tn The term גַּלְגַּל (galgal, “wheel”) refers to the “water wheel” or “paddle wheel” for drawing water from a well (HALOT 190 s.v. I גַּלְגַּל 2; BDB 165 s.v. גַּלְגַּל 1.b). This Hebrew noun is related to the Akkadian term gulgullu (“pot”), as well as Phoenician (?) גלגל (“wheel for drawing water”). The Latin term girgillus (“lever for the bucket”) is a late derivation from this term. See G. Dalman, Arbeit und Sitte in Palästina, 2:225-28.

[12:7]  ³ tn Or “spirit.” The likely referent is the life’s breath that originates with God. See Eccl 3:19, as well as Gen 2:7; 6:17; 7:22.