Ecclesiastes 5:5

Ecclesiastes 5:5 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
• New Living Translation (NLT)It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:5

3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. 4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 word by word

ט֖וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תִדֹּ֑ר מִשֶׁתִּדּ֖וֹר וְלֹ֥א תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• that thou shouldest not vowנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
• and not payשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:5

• Deuteronomy 23:22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
• Proverbs 20:25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
• Acts 5:4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, etc. - We are under constant obligations to live to God; no vow can make it more so. Yet, there may be cases in which we should bind ourselves to take up some particular cross, to perform some particular duty, to forego some particular attachment that does not tend to bring our souls nearer to God. Then, if fully determined, and strong in faith relative to the point, bind and hold fast; but if not fully…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. 4-5Fulfill your vow: This is almost a direct quote from the law (Deuteronomy 23:21–23; see also Proverbs 12:22; 20:25). Vows to God were voluntary, but once made, you had to keep them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. (De 23:21, 23).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:5

• Vows

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Synagogue, the Great

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