King James Version
Ecclesiastes 5:4 in the King James Version says “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4 · KJV
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. thing: or, word
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
KJV Study — Public Domain
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
“unto God”
H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
“not to pay”
H7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
“it for he hath no pleasure”
H2656pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
“not to pay”
H7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate
This verse is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Ecclesiastes 5:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge