English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 5:7
7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:7
5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. 8If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
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 5:3For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
- Ecclesiastes 7:18It 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.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
- Proverbs 23:17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
- Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries