Berean Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:4
4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
- New International Version (NIV)When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:4
2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. 3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:4 word by word
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם׃Read the interlinear
- Whenאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- you makeנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- a vowנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
- to Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- do notאַל'al · notH408
- delayאָחַר'âchar · to delayH309
- in fulfilling itשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
- becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
- He takes noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
- pleasureחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656
- in foolsכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:4
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,
- Genesis 35:1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
- Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.
- Deuteronomy 23:21If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.
- Psalms 50:14Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 76:11Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
- Psalms 119:106I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
- Isaiah 19:21The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and on that day Egypt will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them.
- Matthew 5:33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
- Psalms 147:10He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
- Malachi 1:10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
- Hebrews 10:6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.
- Psalms 66:13I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You—
- Psalms 116:14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
- Jonah 2:9But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4When thou vowest a vow - When in distress and difficulty, men are apt to promise much to God if he will relieve them; but generally forget the vow when the distress or trouble is gone by.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-8Verses 4-8 When a person made engagements rashly, he suffered his mouth to cause his flesh to sin. The case supposes a man coming to the priest, and pretending that his vow was made rashly, and that it would be wrong to fulfil it. Such mockery of God would bring the Divine displeasure, which might blast what was thus unduly kept. We are to keep down the fear of man. Set God before thee; then, if thou seest the oppression of the poor, thou wilt not find…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Fulfill your vow: This is almost a direct quote from the law (Deuteronomy 23:21–23; see also Proverbs 12:22; 20:25). Vows to God were voluntary, but once made, you had to keep them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. When thou vowest a vow unto God--Hasty words in prayer (Ec 5:2, 3) suggest the subject of hasty vows. A vow should not be hastily made (Jud 11:35; 1Sa 14:24). When made, it must be kept (Psa 76:11), even as God keeps His word to us (Ex 12:41, 51; Jos 21:45).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:4
In the dictionaries
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
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