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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 5:4–5

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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Reference depth

From verse 4

  1. Numbers 30:2Rank 1 from verse 4
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    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.

  2. Deuteronomy 23:21–23Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    21¶ When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

    22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

    23That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

  3. Psalms 76:11Rank 3 from verse 4
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    11Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

  4. Matthew 5:33Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    33¶ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

  5. Psalms 66:13–14Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

    14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

From verse 5

  1. Acts 5:4Rank 1 from verse 5
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    4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

  2. Deuteronomy 23:22Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    22But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

  3. Proverbs 20:25Rank 3 from verse 5
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    25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

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DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 5:4

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

vowest

↗

Second-person singular present form of vow, meaning to bind oneself by such a promise.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vow

↗

Sense 1: A solemn promise made to God. Sense 2: To bind oneself by such a promise.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

defer

↗

To delay, postpone, put off, or withhold action until a later time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

pay

↗

To discharge a debt or obligation; to render what is due, fulfill a promise, reward, or recompense.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

fools

↗

Persons lacking wisdom or sound judgment, especially in moral or spiritual conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hast

↗

Sense 1: Have: possess, hold, receive, or experience. Sense 2: Used as an auxiliary verb.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 5:5

COMBINED MEANING

better

↗

Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

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

COMBINED MEANING

vow

↗

Sense 1: A solemn promise made to God. Sense 2: To bind oneself by such a promise.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pay

↗

To discharge a debt or obligation; to render what is due, fulfill a promise, reward, or recompense.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

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3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Selected passage

5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Selected passage

6Suffer 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?

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