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 don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes. 19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town! 20Not a single person on earth is always 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 keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
• Proverbs 4:25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
• Proverbs 8:20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.
• Luke 11:42“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
• Psalms 25:12Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.
• Psalms 145:19He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
• Jeremiah 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.
• Malachi 4:2“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
• Luke 1:50He shows mercy from generation to generation to all 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