Approach God with Reverence: Beware Rash Vows and Idle Words
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
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Ecc.5.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- תבהל: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ולבך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- אל: NEG
- ימהר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- להוציא: VERB,hiphil,inf
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בשמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- יהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- דבריך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2ms
- מעטים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 10:19 (verbal): Warns that many words lead to sin; echoes Ecclesiastes’ admonition to limit speech to avoid transgression.
- Proverbs 17:27 (verbal): Affirms that a person of understanding restrains words; parallels the counsel to keep one's words few and measured.
- James 1:19 (thematic): Urges believers to be quick to hear and slow to speak—same practical ethic of cautious, limited speech found in Ecclesiastes 5:1.
- Matthew 5:34-37 (structural): Jesus’ prohibition against oaths and call to plain, guarded speech connects to Ecclesiastes’ warning about speaking rashly before God.
- Psalm 39:1-2 (thematic): David’s restraint and silence to avoid sin with his tongue parallels the Psalmist’s and Ecclesiastes’ theme of holding back speech before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not be hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven and you are on the earth—therefore let your words be few.
- Do not be quick with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven and you are on the earth—therefore let your words be few.
Ecc.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- החלום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כסיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ecclesiastes 5:1 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter urging restraint of speech before God—connects the admonition about words and conduct in God’s presence.
- Proverbs 10:19 (verbal): Shares the observation that a multitude of words leads to sin or folly—explicitly links many words with moral danger.
- Proverbs 17:28 (thematic): Notes that silence can make a fool appear wise, contrasting with the damage done by excessive or foolish speech.
- Proverbs 15:2 (thematic): Contrasts wise and foolish speech—wise use of words versus the mouth of fools pouring out folly, echoing the critique of foolish talk in Ecclesiastes.
Alternative generated candidates
- For a dream comes with much business, and the voice of a fool with many words.
- For a dream comes amid many matters, and the voice of a fool with many words.
Ecc.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כאשר: CONJ
- תדר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- נדר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תאחר: VERB,qal,imperf,2,m,sg
- לשלמו: VERB,qal,inf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- חפץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בכסילים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תדר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- שלם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Proverbs 20:25 (verbal): Warns that rashly declaring something 'holy' or making a vow impulsively is a snare; parallels Ecclesiastes' caution about vows and the need to be careful before vowing.
- Numbers 30:2 (verbal): States that when a person makes a vow to the LORD he must not break his word but must do according to what he has promised—directly echoes the obligation to fulfill vows to God.
- Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (thematic): Commands that if you make a vow to the LORD you must not delay to pay it and must fulfill it—closely parallels the admonition in Ecclesiastes to promptly keep vows to God.
- Matthew 5:33-37 (allusion): Jesus teaches against oaths and urges straightforward honesty ('let your yes be yes'), reflecting the same concern for integrity and the proper handling of vows and promises.
- James 5:12 (allusion): Repeats Jesus' injunction not to swear but to let one's yes be yes; relates to Ecclesiastes' emphasis on fulfilling vows and avoiding foolish or insincere promises.
Alternative generated candidates
- When you vow a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for God has no pleasure in fools—pay what you vow.
- When you vow a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools—pay what you vow.
Ecc.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- תדר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- משתדור: VERB,hithpael,ptc,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- תשלם: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 30:2 (thematic): Prescribes the obligation to keep vows made to the LORD, addressing the same concern about making commitments one must fulfill.
- Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (verbal): Direct admonition not to delay fulfilling vows to God and to pay what one has vowed—closely parallels Ecclesiastes' warning about vowing without payment.
- Proverbs 20:25 (thematic): Warns that rash vows are a snare and that one may regret them—echoes the caution that it is better not to vow than to vow and fail to pay.
- Matthew 5:33-37 (allusion): Jesus teaches against swearing oaths and insists on plain, trustworthy speech ('let your yes be yes'), reflecting the ethical concern about making binding promises.
- James 5:12 (verbal): Echoes Jesus' instruction to avoid oaths and to let simple affirmation suffice, reinforcing the New Testament parallel to the caution in Ecclesiastes.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill.
- It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Ecc.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- לחטיא: VERB,hiph,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- בשרך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,m
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- תאמר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- המלאך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- שגגה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- למה: ADV
- יקצף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- קולך: NOUN,m,sg,suf
- וחבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- מעשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידיך: NOUN,f,pl,cs,2ms
Parallels
- Matthew 12:36-37 (thematic): Jesus warns that people will give account for every idle word and be judged by their speech, echoing Ecclesiastes’ concern that careless words can provoke divine anger and undo one’s work.
- James 3:1-2 (thematic): James stresses that those who teach will be judged and that the tongue can lead to sin, paralleling the warning here about speech causing flesh to sin and inviting judgment.
- Proverbs 13:3 (verbal): Proverbs counsels that guarding the mouth preserves life while many words bring ruin—closely reflecting the admonition to restrain speech lest it spoil one’s work.
- Psalm 39:1 (verbal): The psalmist declares an intention to guard his ways so as not to sin with his tongue, a direct verbal and ethical parallel to the caution in Ecclesiastes about speech causing sin.
- Matthew 5:37 (allusion): Jesus’ counsel to let one’s ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ be ‘No’ parallels the admonition not to make careless statements (e.g., ‘it was a mistake’) before a divine messenger, avoiding falsehoods that bring divine displeasure.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was an oversight—why should God be angry at the sound of your words and undo the work of your hands?
- Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was an error—why should God be angry at the sound of your words and cut off the work of your hands?
Ecc.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חלמות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- והבלים: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ודברים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הרבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- את: PRT,acc
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Eccl.5.1-2 (structural): Immediate context: warns against hastiness of speech before God and prescribes reverence. Both verses link speech-restraint with fearing God.
- Prov.10.19 (verbal): 'When there are many words transgression is not lacking' echoes Eccles.5:6's contrast between 'many words/dreams' and vanity—many words lead to folly or sin.
- Prov.17.27-28 (thematic): Praises restraint of speech and links few words with wisdom—correlates with Ecclesiastes' critique of excessive talk as vain.
- Ps.111.10 (thematic): 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' parallels Eccles.5:6's final imperative to fear God as the proper response to vanity and human folly.
- Matt.12.36-37 (allusion): Jesus' warning that people will give account for every idle word resonates with Eccles.5:6's warning about many words and their vanity, underscoring moral accountability for speech.
Alternative generated candidates
- For in many dreams and in many words there is also vanity; but fear God.
- For in many dreams and in many words there are vanities; but fear God.
Ecc.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אם: CONJ
- עשק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רש: VERB,qal,inf
- וגזל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצדק: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תראה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- במדינה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תתמה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- החפץ: PTCP,qal,act,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- גבה: ADJ,m,sg
- מעל: PREP
- גבה: ADJ,m,sg
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וגבהים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Amos 5:7 (verbal): Accuses people of turning justice into bitterness and casting down righteousness—direct verbal parallel to perverted justice and social wrongdoing in the land.
- Micah 3:9-11 (thematic): Condemns leaders and judges who hate justice, take bribes, and oppress the people—themes of corrupt officials and perverted legal order echo Ecclesiastes.
- Isaiah 1:23 (thematic): Charges rulers with loving bribes and failing to defend the needy—connects perversion of justice and corrupt leadership described in Ecclesiastes.
- Habakkuk 1:4 (verbal): Declares that the law is paralyzed and justice never goes forth because the wicked surround the righteous—language and idea parallel the observation of rampant injustice.
- Psalm 94:20-21 (thematic): Questions whether a corrupt throne can be allied with God and denounces councils that scheme evil—resonates with the image of high officials and systemic injustice in the land.
Alternative generated candidates
- If you see the oppression of the poor and the perverting of justice and righteousness in the land, do not be amazed at the matter; for the exalted are over the exalted, and still more exalted are above them.
- If you see in the land the oppression of the poor and the perversion of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter; for there are exalted over exalted, and higher ones above them.
Do not be quick with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven and you are on the earth—therefore let your words be few.
For a dream comes with many matters, and the voice of a fool with many words.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it; for God takes no pleasure in fools—fulfill what you vow.
Better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger that it was a mistake—why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are vanities; but fear God.
If you see the oppression of the poor and the perversion of justice and righteousness in the land, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is exalted over another, and higher ones are above them.