New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 5:7
7Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, 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 for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it. 6Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, “It was a mistake!” Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?” Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God! 8If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them! 9The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the 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 5:3Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.
- Ecclesiastes 7:18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time.
- Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys his servant? Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should 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
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