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

16Don’t be too virtuous, and don’t be too wise. Why make yourself miserable? 17Don’t be too wicked, and don’t be a fool. Why should you die before your time is up? It’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. 19Wisdom will help a wise person more than ten rulers can help a city. 20Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins.

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 seed in the morning, and don’t let your hands rest until evening. You don’t know whether this field or that field will be profitable or whether both of them will ⌞turn out⌟ equally well.
• Proverbs 4:25Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.
• Proverbs 8:20I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
• Luke 11:42“How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, spices, and every garden herb. But you have ignored justice and the love of God. You should have done these things without ignoring the others.
• 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.
• Psalms 25:12Who, then, is this person that fears the Lord? He is the one whom the Lord will teach which path to choose.
• Psalms 145:19He fills the needs of those who fear him. He hears their cries for help and saves them.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make an eternal promise to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me.
• Malachi 4:2“The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall.
• Luke 1:50For those who fear him, his mercy lasts throughout every generation.

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