Ecclesiastes 5:2–3
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.
‖*Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God: for God is in heauen, and thou vpon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- ‖Alternative wordingOr, word.
- *Cross-referenceMat.6.7. prou.10.19.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
For a dreame commeth through the multitude of businesse, and a fooles voyce is knowen by multitude of words.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
PASSAGE SELECTION
Build from either side
Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.
SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
Cross References
9 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 2
- Matthew 6:7Rank 1 from verse 2
- Proverbs 10:19Rank 2 from verse 2
- Isaiah 55:9Rank 3 from verse 2
- Matthew 6:9Rank 4 from verse 2
- Ecclesiastes 5:3Rank 5 from verse 2
- Ecclesiastes 5:7Rank 6 from verse 2
- Genesis 18:27Rank 7 from verse 2
- Numbers 30:2–5Rank 8 from verse 2
2If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
3If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;
4And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
5But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
2If a man vowe a vow vnto the LORD, or sweare an othe to bind his soule with a bond: he shall not †breake his word, hee shall doe according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
3If a woman also vow a vow vnto the LORD, and binde her selfe by a bond, being in her fathers house in her youth;
4And her father heare her vow, and her bond wherewith shee hath bound her soule, and her father shall holde his peace at her: then all her vowes shall stand, and euery bond wherewith shee hath bound her soule, shall stand.
5But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vowes or of her bonds, wherewith she hath bound her soule, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgiue her, because her father disallowed her.
- Genesis 28:20Rank 9 from verse 2
20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
20And Iacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keepe me in this way that I goe, and will giue me bread to eate, and raiment to put on,
- Proverbs 20:25Rank 11 from verse 2
- Psalms 115:3Rank 12 from verse 2
- Genesis 18:32Rank 13 from verse 2
32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
32And hee saide, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speake yet but this once: Peraduenture ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for tennes sake.
- Genesis 18:30Rank 14 from verse 2
30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
30And he said vnto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speake: Peraduenture there shall thirtie bee found there. And he said, I will not doe it, if I find thirtie there.
- 1 Samuel 14:24–45Rank 15 from verse 2
24¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
25And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
27But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.
33¶ Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord.
36¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
24¶ And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adiured the people, saying, Cursed bee the man that eateth any foode vntill euening, that I may be auenged on mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any food.
25And all they of the land came to a wood, and there was honie vpon the ground.
26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honie dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
27But Ionathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath; wherefore he put foorth the ende of the rodde that was in his hand, and dipt it in an hony combe, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.
28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were ‖faint.
29Then said Ionathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes haue beene enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honie:
30How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoile of their enemies which they found? for had there not beene now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aiialon: and the people were very faint.
32And the people flewe vpon the spoile, and tooke sheepe, and oxen, and calues, and slew them on the ground, and the people did eate them *with the blood.
33¶ Then they tolde Saul, saying, Behold, the people sinne against the LORD, in that they eate with the blood. And he said, Yee haue ‖transgressed: roule a great stone vnto mee this day.
34And Saul said, Disperse your selues among the people, and say vnto them, Bring me hither euery man his oxe, and euery man his sheepe, and slay them here, and eat, and sinne not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought euery man his oxe †with him that night, and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar vnto the LORD: †the same was the first altar that he built vnto the LORD.
36¶ And Saul saide, Let vs goe downe after the Philistines by night, and spoile them vntil the morning light, and let vs not leaue a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoeuer seemeth good vnto thee. Then said the priest, Let vs draw neere hither vnto God.
37And Saul asked counsell of God, Shall I goe downe after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliuer them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
38And Saul said, Draw yee neere hither *all the †chiefe of the people: and know and see, wherein this sinne hath beene this day.
39For as the LORD liueth, which saueth Israel, though it bee in Ionathan my sonne, he shall surely die: But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
40Then said he vnto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I, and Ionathan my sonne will be on the other side. And the people said vnto Saul, Doe what seemeth good vnto thee.
41Therefore Saul saide vnto the LORD God of Israel, ‖Giue a perfect lot. And Saul and Ionathan were taken: but the people †escaped.
42And Saul said, Cast lots betweene me and Ionathan my sonne. And Ionathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Ionathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Ionathan tolde him, and said, I did but taste a litle hony with the end of the rodde that was in mine hand, and loe, I must die.
44And Saul answered, God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Ionathan.
45And the people said vnto Saul, Shall Ionathan die, who hath wrought this great saluation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liueth, there shal not one haire of his head fall to the ground: for hee hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Ionathan, that hee died not.
- Judges 11:30Rank 16 from verse 2
- Genesis 28:22Rank 17 from verse 2
From verse 3
- Proverbs 15:2Rank 1 from verse 3
- Proverbs 10:19Rank 2 from verse 3
- Ecclesiastes 10:12–14Rank 3 from verse 3
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
12*†The words of a wise mans mouth are gratious: but the lips of a foole will swallow vp himselfe.
13†The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse: and the end of his talke is mischieuous madnesse.
14*†*A foole also is full of words; a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall bee after him who can tell him?
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
Open a word for its full definition and concordance.
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 5:2
Hasty or acting without sufficient thought; spoken or done too quickly.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Quick; speedy; opposed to slow.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. To speak, declare, or make known. 2. Outermost or complete.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The one true God.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The firmament or expanse above the earth, including the sky and the region of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, and flying creatures. Sense 2: The realm above spoken of as God's throne and dwelling place, and as the place of angels, heavenly beings, and the righteous. Sense 3: By metonymy, God, heavenly authority or source, or those who dwell there.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 5:3
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Thoughts, images, or visions experienced in sleep. Sense 2: To experience images or thoughts in sleep, especially a vision in a dream.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
From one side or end to another; by means of; throughout; or because of.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A great number or large gathered body of persons, creatures, or forces; a crowd, company, or host. 2. A great number, amount, fullness, or abundance of years, words, deeds, mercies, sins, possessions, waters, or other stated things.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Work, duty, occupation, or an affair requiring attention.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: A person lacking wisdom or moral understanding. Sense 2: As a verb, to act foolishly or deceive.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Recognized, understood, perceived, acknowledged, or made evident.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
FOLLOW THE THEME
Related Concepts
Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.
heaven and eternal life
READ BEFORE AND AFTER
Surrounding Verses
Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.
1KEEP thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
1¶ *Kepe thy foote when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to heare, then to giue the sacrifice of fooles: for they consider not that they doe euill.
2Be 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.
2‖*Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to vtter any thing before God: for God is in heauen, and thou vpon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Selected passage3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
3For a dreame commeth through the multitude of businesse, and a fooles voyce is knowen by multitude of words.
Selected passage4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
4**When thou vowest a vow vnto God, deferre not to pay it: for he hath no pleasure in fooles; pay that which thou hast vowed.