God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 5:7
7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still 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
5It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. 6Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a ⌞temple⌟ messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should God become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished? In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear God. 8Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them. 9Yet, a king is an advantage for a country with 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 5:3Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries. Careless speaking comes when there are too many words.
- Ecclesiastes 7:18It’s good to hold on to the one and not let go of the other, because the one who fears God will be able to avoid both extremes.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone.
- Proverbs 23:17Do not envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the Lord.
- Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? Let those who walk in darkness and have no light trust the name of the Lord and depend upon their 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries