Ecclesiastes 5:2

Ecclesiastes 5:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:2

1Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. 3For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words. 4When you make a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him]. Pay what you vow.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 word by word

אַל־תְּבַהֵ֨ל עַל־פִּ֜יךָ וְלִבְּךָ֧ אַל־יְמַהֵ֛ר לְהוֹצִ֥יא דָבָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַֽל־כֵּ֛ן יִהְי֥וּ דְבָרֶ֖יךָ מְעַטִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Be not rashבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
• with thy mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• and let not thine heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• be hastyמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• to utterיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: speakH3318
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• in heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• and thou upon earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• be fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Genesis 18:27Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the Lord.
• Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow (promise), saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear,
• Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself with a pledge [of abstinence], he shall not break (violate, profane) his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
• Judges 11:30Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,
• 1 Samuel 14:24But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.
• Mark 6:23And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”
• Psalms 115:3But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
• Isaiah 55:9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
• Matthew 6:9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
• Ecclesiastes 5:3For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.
• Proverbs 10:19When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.
• Matthew 6:7“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
• James 3:2For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Be not rash with thy mouth - Do not hasten with thy mouth; weigh thy words, feel deeply, think much, speak little. "When ye approach his altar, on your lips Set strictest guard; and let your thoughts be pure, Fervent, and recollected. Thus prepared, Send up the silent breathings of your souls, Submissive to his will." C.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7This section discusses various topics, such as justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. rash--opposed to the considerate reverence ("keep thy foot," Ec 5:1). This verse illustrates Ec 5:1, as to prayer in the house of God ("before God," Is 1:12); so Ec 5:4-6 as to vows. The remedy to such vanities is stated (Ec 5:6). "Fear thou God." God is in heaven--Therefore He ought to be approached with carefully weighed words, by thee, a frail creature of earth.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Heaven
• Humility
• Prayer
• Rashness
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings