King James Version

What Does Ecclesiastes 7:26 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 7:26 in the King James Version says “And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God ... — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. whoso: Heb. he that is good before God

Ecclesiastes 7:26 · KJV


Context

24

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: I applied: Heb. I and mine heart compassed

26

And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. whoso: Heb. he that is good before God

27

Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: counting: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason

28

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I find more bitter than death the woman (וּמוֹצֶא אֲנִי מַר מִמָּוֶת אֶת־הָאִשָּׁה, umotse ani mar mimmavet et-ha'ishah)—'and I find bitter beyond death the woman.' Whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands (אֲשֶׁר־הִיא מְצוֹדִים וַחֲרָמִים לִבָּהּ אֲסוּרִים יָדֶיהָ, asher-hi metsodim vacharamim libbah asurim yadeha)—whose heart is traps and nets, whose hands are fetters. Whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her (טוֹב לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים יִמָּלֵט מִמֶּנָּה וְחוֹטֵא יִלָּכֶד בָּהּ, tov lifnei ha'elohim yimmalet mimmenah vechote yillakhed bah).

This controversial verse requires careful interpretation. The definite article 'the woman' (ha'ishah) suggests a specific type, not womankind generally—likely the adulteress/seductress of Proverbs 2:16-19, 5:3-14, 7:10-27. The hunting imagery (metsodim—traps, charamim—nets, asurim—fetters) depicts calculated ensnaring. The conclusion is key: the righteous man (tov lifnei ha'elohim, 'good before God') escapes through divine protection, while chote (the sinner) falls prey. This isn't misogyny but warning against sexual temptation, echoing Joseph fleeing Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:12). Proverbs 31 celebrates the excellent wife—Ecclesiastes warns against her opposite.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Israelite wisdom literature frequently personified both Wisdom and Folly as women (Proverbs 1-9), using feminine imagery pedagogically. Temple prostitution in surrounding cultures made sexual temptation a pervasive danger requiring explicit warning.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does recognizing sexual temptation as 'more bitter than death' shape appropriate boundaries and vigilance?
  2. What does it mean practically that the righteous 'escape' through pleasing God rather than mere willpower?
  3. How should this warning be taught today without falling into misogyny or dismissing its serious counsel?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וּמוֹצֶ֨א1 of 21

And I find

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

אֲנִ֜י2 of 21
H589

i

מַ֣ר3 of 21

more bitter

H4751

bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly

מִמָּ֗וֶת4 of 21

than death

H4194

death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

אֶת5 of 21
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָֽאִשָּׁה֙6 of 21

the woman

H802

a woman

אֲשֶׁר7 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הִ֨יא8 of 21
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

מְצוֹדִ֧ים9 of 21

is snares

H4685

a fastness or (beseiging) tower

וַחֲרָמִ֛ים10 of 21

and nets

H2764

physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination

לִבָּ֖הּ11 of 21

whose heart

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

אֲסוּרִ֣ים12 of 21

as bands

H612

a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)

יָדֶ֑יהָ13 of 21

and her hands

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

ט֞וֹב14 of 21

whoso pleaseth

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

לִפְנֵ֤י15 of 21
H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הָאֱלֹהִים֙16 of 21

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִמָּלֵ֣ט17 of 21

shall escape

H4422

properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn

מִמֶּ֔נָּה18 of 21
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְחוֹטֵ֖א19 of 21

from her but the sinner

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

יִלָּ֥כֶד20 of 21

shall be taken

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

בָּֽהּ׃21 of 21
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

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.

Theological Significance

Ecclesiastes 7:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ecclesiastes 7:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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