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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

Solomon's design, in driving us off from the world, by showing us its vanity, is to drive us to God and to our duty, that we may not walk in the way of the world, but by religious rules, nor depend upon the wealth of the world, but on religious advantages; and therefore, I. He here sends us to the house of God, to the place of public worship, to the temple, which he himself had built at a vast expense. When he reflected with regret on all his other works (Eccl. 2:4), he did not repent of that,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God ,.... In private conversation care should be taken that no rash and unadvised words be spoken in haste, as were by Moses and David; and that no evil, nor even any idle word he uttered, since from, the abundance of the heart the mouth is apt to speak, and all is before, the Lord; not a word in the tongue but is altogether known by him, and must be accounted for to him, Psalm 106:33 . Jerom... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Be 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 more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Section 6. Man's outward and secular life being unable to secure happiness and satisfaction, can these be found in popular religion? Religious exercises need the observation of strict rules, which are far from meeting with general attention. Koheleth proceeds to give instruction, in the form of maxims, concerning public worship, prayer, and vows. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Koheleth warns against thoughtless words or hasty professions in prayer, which formed another feature of popular religion. Be not rash with thy mouth. The warning is against hasty and thoughtless words in prayer, words that go from the lips with glib facility, but come not from the heart. Thus our Lord bids those who pray not to use vain repetitions ( μὴ βαττολογήσατε ), as the heathen, who think to be heard for their much speaking ( Matthew 6:7 ). Jesus himself used the same words in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Ecclesiastes 5:2. Be not rash with thy mouth Speak not without due consideration; and let not thy heart be hasty Do not give way to every sudden motion of thy heart, nor suffer it to break out of thy lips till thou hast well weighed it. We must think, and think twice, before we speak, when we are to speak, either from God in preaching, or to God in prayer, or in solemn vows and promises made in his presence; which were very much in use in those times, and of which he speaks in the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

5:1-10:20 MAKE THE MOST OF LIFE’S FRUSTRATIONSAdvice about religion (5:1-7)Among the many affairs of everyday life that the writer deals with is the matter of religious practices. First he warns that the offering of sacrifices is useless if the worshippers have no desire to listen to God’s word or obey it (5:1). Those thinking of making vows must consider their vows carefully before telling them to God. Too many words may lead to foolish vows, just as too much work can produce bad dreams... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 5:2

thing = word. upon earth. Same idea as "under the sun". See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:2

2. rash—opposed to the considerate reverence ("keep thy foot," :-). This verse illustrates :-, as to prayer in the house of God ("before God," Isaiah 1:12); so Isaiah 1:12- : as to vows. The remedy to such vanities is stated (Ecclesiastes 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 more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

The effect of rash vows 5:1-7An interlude of proverbs follows the personal section just concluded."The sacrifice of fools" in view (Ecclesiastes 5:1) is a rash vow, as is clear from what follows. Ecclesiastes 5:3 seems to compare the verbosity of a fool in making a rash vow to God and the endless dreams one often experiences after a very busy day. Much work generates many dreams, and a fool utters too many words. [Note: Kaiser, Ecclesiastes . . ., p. 75.] If a person makes a rash promise to God... read more

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