Bible/Ecclesiastes/5

Ecclesiastes 5:6

5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

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Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that it was an error: why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

What does Ecclesiastes 5:6 mean?

Ecclesiastes 5:6 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נָתַן (nâthan), פֶּה (peh), בָּשָׂר (bâsâr). It connects to 5 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Sufferנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
not
thy
mouthפֶּהpeh/peh/H6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
to
cause
thy
fleshבָּשָׂרbâsâr/baw-sawr'/H1320flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman
to
sin;חָטָאchâṭâʼ/khaw-taw'/H2398properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
neither
sayאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
thou
beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
the
angel,מֲלְאָךְmălʼâk/mal-awk'/H4397a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
that
it
was
an
error:שְׁגָגָהshᵉgâgâh/sheg-aw-gaw'/H7684a mistake or inadvertent transgression
wherefore
should
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
be
angryקָצַףqâtsaph/kaw-tsaf'/H7107to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage
at
thy
voice,קוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
and
destroyחָבַלchâbal/khaw-bal'/H2254to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind; specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also to writhe in pain (especially of parturition)
the
workמַעֲשֶׂהmaʻăseh/mah-as-eh'/H4639an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
of
thine
hands?יָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:6

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 5:6
" 1 Praise ye the Lord . Praise, O ye servants of the Lord , praise the name of the Lord . 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord 's name is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, 6 Who humbleth himself to behold the t

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Chronicles 16:36

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

1 Chronicles 29:10

Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

Daniel 2:20

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Ephesians 3:21

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Topics

Vows

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 5:6.

Genesis 1:29

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed

Genesis 6:13

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. with the earth: or, from the earth

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 18:8

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Genesis 2:23

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Woman: Heb. Isha Man: Heb. Ish

Genesis 20:6

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Genesis 24:7

The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Genesis 3:12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 5:6 say?

Ecclesiastes 5:6 (King James Version) reads: "Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?"

Is Ecclesiastes 5:6 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 5:6 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 5:6, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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5:5Read all of Ecclesiastes 55:7