Ecclesiastes 5 · Verse 7

Ecclesiastes 5:7

For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Ecclesiastes 5:7, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 5:7 in other translations

BSBFor as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
WEBFor in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.
ASVFor in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
YLTFor, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.
DARBYFor in the multitude of dreams are vanities; so with many words: but fear God.
BBEBecause much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.
WebsterFor in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

What does Ecclesiastes 5:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. (See on Ec 5:3). God's service, which ought to be our chief good, becomes by "dreams" (foolish fancies as of God's requirements of us in worship), and random "words," positive "vanity." The remedy is, whatever fools may do, "Fear thou God" (Ec 12:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 In - dreams - are - divers vanities; but fear thou God - If, by the disturbed state of thy mind during the day, or by Satanic influence, thou dream of evil, do not give way to any unreasonable fears, or gloomy forebodings, of any coming mischief: - Fear God. Fear neither the dream nor its interpretation; God, will take care of and protect thee. Most certainly, he that fears God need fear nothing else. Well may an upright soul say to Satan himself, I fear God; and because I fear him, I do not fear thee.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:4-8

When a person made engagements rashly, he suffered his mouth to cause his flesh to sin. The case supposes a man coming to the priest, and pretending that his vow was made rashly, and that it would be wrong to fulfil it. Such mockery of God would bring the Divine displeasure, which might blast what was thus unduly kept. We are to keep down the fear of man. Set God before thee; then, if thou seest the oppression of…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 5:4-8 →

Ecclesiastes 5:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֣יkiforH3588
בְרֹ֤בve.Roin abundance ofH7230
חֲלֹמוֹת֙cha.lo.mOtdreamsH2472
וַהֲבָלִ֔יםva.ha.va.Limand futilitiesH1892
וּדְבָרִ֖יםu.de.va.Rimand wordsH1697
הַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehmanyH7235
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
יְרָֽא\׃ye.Ra'fearH3372

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 5:7

  • Matthew 12:36

    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:12

    Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3

    For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

  • Isaiah 50:10-11

    Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

  • Proverbs 23:17

    Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:18

    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.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:14

    I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in the.
3; Mt 12:36
but.
7:18; 8:12; 12:13; Pr 23:17; Isa 50:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 5:6

    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?

  • Ecclesiastes 5:7

    For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:8

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Donde los sueños son en multitud, también lo son las vanidades y muchas las palabras; mas tú teme á Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si tu vois le pauvre opprimé et le droit et la justice violentés dans une province, ne t’étonne pas de cela; car il y en a un qui est haut au-dessus des hauts, et qui y prend garde, et il y en a de plus hauts qu’eux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn bei vielen Träumen und Worten sind auch viele Eitelkeiten. Vielmehr fürchte Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si videris calumnias egenorum, et violenta judicia, et subverti justitiam in provincia, non mireris super hoc negotio: quia excelso excelsior est alius, et super hos quoque eminentiores sunt alii;