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

16So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed. 17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time. It 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. 19Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city. 20For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does 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 11:6Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed – whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.
• Proverbs 4:25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you.
• Proverbs 8:20I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,
• Luke 11:42“But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others.
• 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.
• Psalms 25:12The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live.
• Psalms 145:19He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make a lasting covenant with them that I will never stop doing good to them. I will fill their hearts and minds with respect for me so that they will never again turn away from me.
• Malachi 4:2But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.
• Luke 1:50from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.

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