Ecclesiastes 7:2-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

In these verses Solomon lays down some great truths which seem paradoxes to the unthinking part, that is, the far greatest part, of mankind. I. That the honour of virtue is really more valuable and desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world (Eccl. 7:1): A good name is before good ointment (so it may be read); it is preferable to it, and will be rather chosen by all that are wise. Good ointment is here put for all the profits of the earth (among the products of which oil was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the sun, which gave occasion for many melancholy speculations and were a great discouragement to virtue and piety. Now here, I. He grants the temptation to be strong (Eccl. 7:7): Surely it is often too true that oppression makes a wise man mad. If a wise man be much and long oppressed, he is very apt to speak and act unlike himself, to lay the reins on the neck of his passions, and break out into indecent complaints... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to the house of mourning ,.... For deceased relations or friends, who either lie unburied, or have been lately inferred; for the Jews kept their mourning for their dead several days afterwards, when their friends visited them in order to comfort them, as the Jews did Martha and Mary, John 11:31 . So the Targum here, "it is better to go to a mourning man to comfort him;' for at such times and places the conversation was serious and interesting, and turned upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:3

Sorrow is better than laughter ,.... Sorrow, expressed in the house of mourning, is better, more useful and commendable, than that foolish laughter, and those airs of levity, expressed in the house of feasting; or sorrow on account of affliction and troubles, even adversity itself, is oftentimes much more profitable, and conduces more to the good of men, than prosperity; or sorrow for sin, a godly sorrow, a sorrow after a godly sort, which works repentance unto salvation, that needeth not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:4

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning ,.... When his body is not; when it does not suit him to go thither in person, his mind is there, and his thoughts are employed on the useful subjects of the frailty and mortality of human nature, of death, a future judgment, and a world to come; which shows him to be a wise man, and concerned for the best things, even for his eternal happiness in another state; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth ; where jovial company... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise ,.... To listen to it diligently, receive it cordially, and act according to it; though it may be disagreeable to the flesh, and give present pain, yet the effect and issue will be good, and show that man to be wise that hears it, as well as he that gives it; see Psalm 141:1 ; than for a man to hear the song of fools ; the vain and impure songs that foolish men sing in the house of mirth; or the flatteries of foolish men, which tickle and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:6

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool ,.... As thorns are weak, useless, and unprofitable; yea, hurtful and pernicious, and only fit for burning; so are foolish and wicked men, 2 Samuel 23:6 ; and as the noise and sound of the one under a pot is very short, they make a blaze for a while, and is soon over; so though the laughter of a fool is loud and noisy, it makes no melody, no more than the noise of thorns; and is but for a moment, and will be soon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:7

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad ,.... Which is to be understood either passively, when he is oppressed by others, or sees others oppressed; it raises indignation in him, disturbs his mind, and he is ready to pass a wrong judgment on the dispensations of Providence, and to say rash and unadvised things concerning them, Psalm 73:2 ; or actively, of oppression with which he oppresses others; when he gives into such measures, his wisdom departs from him, his mind is besotted, he acts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof ,.... If the thing is good, other ways the end of it is worse; as the end of wickedness and wicked men, whose beginning is sweet, but the end bitter; yea, are the ways of death, Proverbs 5:4 ; and so the end of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh, Galatians 3:3 ; but the end of good things, and of good men, is better than the beginning; as the end of Job was, both with respect to things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry ,.... With men, for every word that is said, or action done, that is not agreeable; encourage not, but repress, sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick of resentment, and at once express anger and displeasure; but be slow to wrath, for such a man is better than the mighty, James 1:19 , Proverbs 16:32 ; or with God, for his corrections and chastisements; so the Targum, "in the time that correction from heaven comes upon thee, do not hasten... read more

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