The End of the Matter — a Variant Tradition — Ecclesiastes 12:13
סוֹף דָּבָר
What to look for
The book's famous conclusion: 'The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God and keep His commandments.'
What it is
A variant tradition of an enlarged samekh at Ecclesiastes' final turn from questioning to reverence.
Why it matters
After twelve chapters of testing everything under the sun, the book lands on two commands. A tradition that enlarges the first letter of 'the end' is underlining the landing.
How it has been understood
Samekh is a closed circle — the only fully enclosed letter besides final mem — and readers have seen in it the completion of the Preacher's long circuit: everything comes round, and the conclusion holds.