Ecclesiastes 5:2

Ecclesiastes 5:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:2

1Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil. Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 3For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words. 4When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

Ecclesiastes 5:2 word by word

אַל־תְּבַהֵ֨ל עַל־פִּ֜יךָ וְלִבְּךָ֧ אַל־יְמַהֵ֛ר לְהוֹצִ֥יא דָבָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַֽל־כֵּ֛ן יִהְי֥וּ דְבָרֶ֖יךָ מְעַטִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Do not beבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
• with your mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• impulsiveמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• in thoughtלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to bringיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: speakH3318
• upיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: speakH3318
• a matterדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• in the presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• is in heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• and you are on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• thereforeעַל‛al · uponH5921
• thereforeכֵּןkên · soH3651
• be fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Genesis 18:27And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only dust and ashes.
• Genesis 28:20Jacob also made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and give me food to eat and garments to wear,
• Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth.
• Judges 11:30And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon,
• 1 Samuel 14:24Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
• Mark 6:23And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.”
• Psalms 115:3But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
• Isaiah 55:9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
• Matthew 6:9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
• Ecclesiastes 5:3For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.
• Proverbs 10:19When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, But one who restrains his lips is wise.
• Matthew 6:7“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Be not rash with thy mouth - Do not hasten with thy mouth; weigh thy words, feel deeply, think much, speak little. "When ye approach his altar, on your lips Set strictest guard; and let your thoughts be pure, Fervent, and recollected. Thus prepared, Send up the silent breathings of your souls, Submissive to his will." C.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7This section discusses various topics, such as justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. rash--opposed to the considerate reverence ("keep thy foot," Ec 5:1). This verse illustrates Ec 5:1, as to prayer in the house of God ("before God," Is 1:12); so Ec 5:4-6 as to vows. The remedy to such vanities is stated (Ec 5:6). "Fear thou God." God is in heaven--Therefore He ought to be approached with carefully weighed words, by thee, a frail creature of earth.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:2

• Heaven
• Humility
• Prayer
• Rashness
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• 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