Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:4
4When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you 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 hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it 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
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:4
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear,
- Genesis 35:1God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
- Numbers 30:2When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.
- Deuteronomy 23:21“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to keep it, because he will require it of you, and it will be counted against you as sin.
- Psalms 50:14Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 76:11Make and keep your vows to the Lord your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one.
- Psalms 119:106I have solemnly sworn to keep your righteous judgments.
- Isaiah 19:21The Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the Lord on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them.
- Matthew 5:33“Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.
- Psalms 147:10He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; he does not value the power of a warrior.
- Malachi 1:10“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
- Hebrews 10:6You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
- Psalms 66:13I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows
- Psalms 116:14I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
- Jonah 2:9but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to 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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