Ecclesiastes 7:18

Ecclesiastes 7:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
• New International Version (NIV)It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:18

16So do not try to be too good or too wise. That might cause you to have trouble. 17But do not be too wicked. Do not be a fool. That might cause you to die when you are still young. Remember both these things. Do not forget either of them. You can do that if you respect God and you obey him. 19Wisdom makes a wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city. 20There is nobody on the earth who is so righteous that they always do what is right. There is nobody who never does a wrong thing.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 word by word

ט֚וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז בָּזֶ֔ה וְגַם־מִזֶּ֖ה אַל־תַּנַּ֣ח אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֵצֵ֥א אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• that thou shouldest take holdאָחַז'âchaz · to graspH270
• of this; yea, also from thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• withdrawיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
• not thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
• for he that fearethיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• shall come forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:18

• Ecclesiastes 11:6Plant your seeds in the morning, and continue to work until the evening. You do not know which seeds will become strong plants. Perhaps only some of them will grow. Perhaps they will all grow well.
• Proverbs 4:25Look straight in front of you to see clearly where you are going.
• Proverbs 8:20I walk along the way that is righteous. I follow the path of justice.
• Luke 11:42It will be very bad for you Pharisees! When you grow spices to cook with food, you give a tenth part of these small things to God. You are right to obey this rule. But you do not do the most important things. You do not help people in a good way. You do not really love God. You should have done the important things as well as the other little things.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12People who do lots of wicked things may live for a long time. But if someone respects and obeys God, they will surely enjoy a good life.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Now I have heard everything and this is what I have decided: Respect God and obey his commands. That is God's purpose for all people.
• Psalms 25:12If people respect the Lord, the Lord will show them the right way to live.
• Psalms 145:19Very kindly he gives his own people the things that they need. He saves them when they call to him for help.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make a covenant with them that will continue for ever. I will promise always to do good things for them. They will want to respect me and obey me so that they never turn away from me again. That is what I will do for them.
• Malachi 4:2‘But it will be different for you who respect my name. My power to make you well again will come to you. It will be like the sun that rises to shine on you. When that happens, you will be very happy. You will jump up and down like young cows when someone lets them go free.
• Luke 1:50He is kind to people who respect and obey him. He will always be kind to people like that.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18It is good that thou shouldest take hold or this - Do not let such an observation slip: take hold of this; do not forget that. Get what you can in an honest way; but do not forget to get true religion; for he that fears God will be saved from all evil.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22God's control over everything is serious, but it gives us hope.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. this ... this--the two opposite excesses (Ec 7:16, 17), fanatical, self-wise righteousness, and presumptuous, foolhardy wickedness. he that feareth God shall come forth of them all--shall escape all such extremes (Pr 3:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:18

• Fear of God
• Righteous
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• 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