Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:7
7For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
Ecclesiastes 5:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
- New International Version (NIV)Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:7
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? For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God. 8If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. 9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:7 word by word
כִּ֣י בְרֹ֤ב חֲלֹמוֹת֙ וַהֲבָלִ֔ים וּדְבָרִ֖ים הַרְבֵּ֑ה כִּ֥י אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרָֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:7
- Ecclesiastes 5:3Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.
- Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
- Proverbs 23:17Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord.
- Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord; let him lean on his God.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7In - dreams - are - divers vanities; but fear thou God - If, by the disturbed state of thy mind during the day, or by Satanic influence, thou dream of evil, do not give way to any unreasonable fears, or gloomy forebodings, of any coming mischief: - Fear God. Fear neither the dream nor its interpretation; God, will take care of and protect thee. Most certainly, he that fears God need fear nothing else. Well may an upright soul say to Satan himself, I fear…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7For vanities - Or, For so it happens through many dreams and vanities and many words.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. 7fear God: Respecting God is the basis for meaningful words and helpful actions (see Ecclesiastes 12:1; Proverbs 1:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. (See on Ec 5:3). God's service, which ought to be our chief good, becomes by "dreams" (foolish fancies as of God's requirements of us in worship), and random "words," positive "vanity." The remedy is, whatever fools may do, "Fear thou God" (Ec 12:13).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:7
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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