--- title: Ecclesiastes 9:12 — For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in a… · Hebrew, tree and pragmatics description: For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Who acts: man, race. Ecclesiastes 9:12 in Hebrew with its dependency tree, the Targum --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.9.12/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tanakh/) / [Ketuvim](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/) / [Ecclesiastes](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/) / [chapter 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/9/) / 9:12 # Ecclesiastes 9:12 קֹהֶלֶת **Who acts:** man, race · **What happens:** not know, take, catch, snare, fall · **To what, where:** fishes, evil net, birds, snare, sons This is Ecclesiastes 9:12 from Mova's open Bible corpus, the Tanakh in three languages (Ketuvim — the Writings). The page gives the verse in Hebrew as the Westminster Leningrad Codex has it, its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, built from MACULA Hebrew — and its pragmatics: who acts — man, race — and what happens in the verse to fishes, evil net, birds, snare, sons, read clause by clause by Mova's frames. Beside it stand the Aramaic of the Targum and the English of the Jewish Publication Society's 1917 translation, each English sentence with a tree of its own. It is one of the 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes on this site, all built by Mova itself from its own trees, with no large model in between. כִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־יֵדַ֨ע הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה רָעָ֔ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם לְעֵ֣ת רָעָ֔ה כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם פִּתְאֹֽם׃ [For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/ECC.181/) ## The tree {#tree} Right to left, as the Hebrew is read; a prefix or suffix is a word of its own, and a line under the words joins those written as one. Under each word its part of speech and MACULA's English gloss. ```conllu rtl gloss # sent_id = wlc:ECC:171 # text = כִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־יֵדַ֨ע הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה רָעָ֔ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם לְעֵ֣ת רָעָ֔ה כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם פִּתְאֹֽם׃ # verse = ECC.9.12 1 כִּ֡י כִּי SCONJ _ _ 4 mark _ Gloss=(dm)|Ref=ECC_9:12!1|MId=o210090120011|Strong=3588 2 גַּם֩ גַּם ADV _ _ 4 advmod _ Gloss=also|Ref=ECC_9:12!2|MId=o210090120021|Strong=1571|Type=affirmation 3 לֹֽא־ לֹא ADV _ _ 4 advmod _ Gloss=not|Ref=ECC_9:12!3|MId=o210090120031|Strong=3808|Type=negative|SpaceAfter=No 4 יֵדַ֨ע יָדַע VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 0 root _ Gloss=he.knows|Ref=ECC_9:12!4|MId=o210090120041|Strong=3045|Frame=A0:210090120052;A1:210090120071;|Type=yiqtol 5-6 הָאָדָ֜ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 הָ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 6 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_9:12!5|MId=o210090120051|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 6 אָדָ֜ם אָדָם NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 4 nsubj _ Gloss=humankind|Ref=ECC_9:12!5|MId=o210090120052|Strong=0120 7 אֶת־ אֵת ADP _ _ 8 case _ Gloss=(et)|Ref=ECC_9:12!6|MId=o210090120061|Strong=0853|Type=direct_object_marker|SpaceAfter=No 8-9 עִתּ֗וֹ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8 עִתּ עֵת NOUN _ Number=Sing 4 obj _ Gloss=time|Ref=ECC_9:12!7|MId=o210090120071|Strong=6256 9 ֗וֹ הוּא PRON _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 8 nmod:poss _ Gloss=his|Ref=ECC_9:12!7|MId=o210090120072|Strong=2050c|Type=pronominal 10-12 כַּדָּגִים֙ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 כַּ כְּ ADP _ _ 12 case _ Gloss=like|Ref=ECC_9:12!8|MId=o210090120081|Strong=3509a 11 ה הַ DET _ PronType=Art 12 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_9:12!8|MId=o210090120081ה|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 12 דָּגִים֙ דָּג NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Plur 29 dislocated _ Gloss=fish(es)|Ref=ECC_9:12!8|MId=o210090120082|Strong=1709 13-14 שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13 שֶׁ שֶׁ SCONJ _ _ 14 mark _ Gloss=which.[are]|Ref=ECC_9:12!9|MId=o210090120091|Strong=7578a|Type=relative 14 נֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ אָחַז VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=NIPHAL|Number=Plur 12 acl:relcl _ Gloss=caught|Ref=ECC_9:12!9|MId=o210090120092|Strong=0270|Frame=A1:210090120083;|Type=participle_passive 15-16 בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 15 בִּ בְּ ADP _ _ 16 case _ Gloss=in|Ref=ECC_9:12!10|MId=o210090120101|Strong=0871a 16 מְצוֹדָ֣ה מְצוֹדָה NOUN _ Gender=Fem|Number=Sing 14 obl _ Gloss=a.net|Ref=ECC_9:12!10|MId=o210090120102|Strong=4686b 17 רָעָ֔ה רַע ADJ _ Gender=Fem|Number=Sing 16 amod _ Gloss=evil|Ref=ECC_9:12!11|MId=o210090120111|Strong=7451|Type=adjective 18-21 וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18 וְ וְ CCONJ _ _ 21 cc _ Gloss=and|Ref=ECC_9:12!12|MId=o210090120121|Strong=2050b 19 כַ֨ כְּ ADP _ _ 21 case _ Gloss=like|Ref=ECC_9:12!12|MId=o210090120122|Strong=3509a 20 ה הַ DET _ PronType=Art 21 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_9:12!12|MId=o210090120122ה|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 21 צִּפֳּרִ֔ים צִפּוֹר NOUN _ Number=Plur 12 conj _ Gloss=birds|Ref=ECC_9:12!12|MId=o210090120123|Strong=6833 22-23 הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 22 הָ הַ SCONJ _ _ 23 mark _ Gloss=[which|Ref=ECC_9:12!13|MId=o210090120131|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 23 אֲחֻז֖וֹת אָחַז VERB _ Gender=Fem|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Plur 21 acl:relcl _ Gloss=are].caught|Ref=ECC_9:12!13|MId=o210090120132|Strong=0270|Frame=A1:210090120124;|Type=participle_passive 24-26 בַּפָּ֑ח _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 24 בַּ בְּ ADP _ _ 26 case _ Gloss=in|Ref=ECC_9:12!14|MId=o210090120141|Strong=0871a 25 ה הַ DET _ PronType=Art 26 det _ Gloss=(the)|Ref=ECC_9:12!14|MId=o210090120141ה|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 26 פָּ֑ח פַּח NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 23 obl _ Gloss=snare|Ref=ECC_9:12!14|MId=o210090120142|Strong=6341 27-28 כָּהֵ֗ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27 כּ כְּ ADP _ _ 28 case _ Gloss=like|Ref=ECC_9:12!15|MId=o210090120151|Strong=3509a 28 ָהֵ֗ם הֵמָּה PRON _ Gender=Masc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 29 obl _ Gloss=them|Ref=ECC_9:12!15|MId=o210090120152|Strong=3963a|Type=personal 29 יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ יָקֹשׁ VERB _ Gender=Masc|HebBinyan=PUAL|Number=Plur 4 parataxis _ Gloss=[are].ensnared|Ref=ECC_9:12!16|MId=o210090120161|Strong=3369|Frame=A1:210090120171;|Type=participle_passive 30 בְּנֵ֣י בֵּן NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Plur 29 nsubj _ Gloss=the.children|Ref=ECC_9:12!17|MId=o210090120171|Strong=1121 31-32 הָֽאָדָ֔ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 31 הָֽ הַ DET _ PronType=Art 32 det _ Gloss=of.(the)|Ref=ECC_9:12!18|MId=o210090120181|Strong=1886a|Type=definite_article 32 אָדָ֔ם אָדָם NOUN _ Gender=Masc|Number=Sing 30 compound:smixut _ Gloss=humankind|Ref=ECC_9:12!18|MId=o210090120182|Strong=0120 33-34 לְעֵ֣ת _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 33 לְ לְ ADP _ _ 34 case _ Gloss=to|Ref=ECC_9:12!19|MId=o210090120191|Strong=3807a 34 עֵ֣ת עֵת NOUN _ Number=Sing 29 obl _ Gloss=a.time|Ref=ECC_9:12!19|MId=o210090120192|Strong=6256 35 רָעָ֔ה רָעָה ADJ _ Gender=Fem|Number=Sing 34 amod _ Gloss=evil|Ref=ECC_9:12!20|MId=o210090120201|Strong=7451|Type=adjective 36-38 כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 36 כְּ כְּ ADP _ _ 29 obl _ Gloss=when|Ref=ECC_9:12!21|MId=o210090120211|Strong=3509a 37 שֶׁ שֶׁ SCONJ _ _ 38 mark _ Gloss=it|Ref=ECC_9:12!21|MId=o210090120212|Strong=7578a|Type=relative 38 תִּפּ֥וֹל נָפַל VERB _ Gender=Fem|HebBinyan=QAL|Number=Sing|Person=3 36 parataxis _ Gloss=falls|Ref=ECC_9:12!21|MId=o210090120213|Strong=5307|Frame=A0:210090120192;|Type=yiqtol 39-40 עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 39 עֲלֵי עַל ADP _ _ 40 case _ Gloss=on|Ref=ECC_9:12!22|MId=o210090120221|Strong=5921 40 הֶ֖ם הוּא PRON _ Gender=Masc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs 38 obl _ Gloss=them|Ref=ECC_9:12!22|MId=o210090120222|Strong=3963a|Type=pronominal 41 פִּתְאֹֽם פִּתְאֹם ADV _ _ 38 advmod _ Gloss=suddenly|Ref=ECC_9:12!23|MId=o210090120231|Strong=6597|SpaceAfter=No 42 ׃ ׃ PUNCT _ _ 41 punct _ Ref=ECC_9:12!23 ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} - form: statement - act: assert - voice: character - speech: inside a quote begun earlier - negation: yes | verb | form · stem | who (A0) | what, whom (A1) | to whom, further (A2) | who makes it happen (AA) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **not** יֵדַע *he knows* | yiqtol · qal | אָדָם *humankind* | עִתּ *time* | | | | נֶּֽאֱחָזִים *caught* | participle passive · niphal | | | | | | אֲחֻזוֹת *are\] caught* | participle passive · qal | | | | | | יֽוּקָשִׁים *\[are\] ensnared* | participle passive · pual | | בְּנֵי *the children* | | | | תִּפּוֹל *falls* | yiqtol · qal | עֵת *a time* | | | | MACULA's semantic frames: for each verb the head word of each participant. A0 is the one who acts, A1 what the act is done to or is about, A2 a further participant; AA, with a causative verb, the one who makes it happen. ## The Targum {#onkelos} אֲרוּם אַף לָא אִשְׁתָּמוֹדַע לִגְבַר יָת זִמְנֵיהּ בֵּין טָב לְבִישׁ מִן מַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי בְּעַלְמָא וּלְמֵיתֵי עֲלוֹי כְּנוּנֵי יַמָּא דְּמִתְאַחֲדִין בְּחַכָּה וּכְצִפָּרֵי שְׁמַיָּא דְּמִתְאַחֲדִין בְּתִקוּלָא כְּוָתְהוֹן מוּתְקְלִין בְּנֵי אֱנָשָׁא לִזְמַן בִּישָׁתָא דְּאִתְעַתְּדַת לְמֶהֱוֵי נָפְלָא עֲלַוֵיהוֹן רִגְעָא חֲדָא מִשְׁמַיָּא: The Aramaic translation read beside the Hebrew. Text only: Mova has no Aramaic parser yet. ## English, JPS 1917 {#english} Each sentence on its own page, with its tree and pragmatics. A sentence that runs on into the next verse is listed under the verse it begins in. 1. [For man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/ECC.181/) **Hebrew text:** Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. **Tree, glosses and frames:** MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets, available at [github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-hebrew](https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-hebrew/), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); converted to Universal Dependencies by Mova (words in text order, a prefix its own word). **Speech act:** Mova's rules on the MACULA words (`macula prag`). **Targum:** Onkelos (Torat Emet), Jonathan and the Writings (Mikraot Gedolot), from Sefaria, public domain. **English:** JPS 1917, public domain; trees and speech acts by Mova's cycle, frames by Mova's reader (Elamur Cosmic License). Hebrew sentence `wlc:ECC:171`. - ← previous: [Ecclesiastes 9:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.9.11/) - next →: [Ecclesiastes 9:13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC.9.13/) - ↑ back to [Ecclesiastes 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/ECC/9/)