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?"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin,.... That is, himself, who is corrupt and depraved; either by making a rash vow, which it is not in his power to keep; or such is the corruption of his nature, and the weakness of the flesh, that he cannot keep it; or by making sinful excuses after he has made the vow, and so is guilty of lying, or false swearing, or other sins of the flesh. Jarchi by "flesh" understands his children,

on whom his iniquity may be visited and punished; and the Targum interprets this punishment of the judgment or condemnation of hell; see Pro 20:25 ; neither say thou before the angel that it was an error; that it was done ignorantly and through mistake: that it was not intended, and that this was not the meaning of the vow; and therefore desires to be excused performing it, or to offer a sacrifice in lieu of it. Interpreters are divided about the angel before whom such an excuse should not be made. Some think angel is put for angels in general, in whose presence, and before whom, as witnesses, vows are made; and who were signified by the cherubim in the sanctuary, where they were to be performed, and who are present in the worshipping assemblies of saints, where these things are done, Ti1 5:21 ; others think the guardian angel is meant, which they suppose every man has; and others that Christ, the Angel of the covenant, is designed, who is in the midst of his people, sees and knows all that is done by them, and will not admit of their excuses; but it is most probable the priest is intended, called the angel, or messenger, of the Lord of hosts, Mal 2:7 ; to whom such who had made vows applied to be loosed from them, acknowledging their error in making them; or to offer sacrifice for their sin of ignorance, Lev 5:4 ; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice; either in making a rash and sinful vow, or in excusing that which was made; and destroy the work of thine hands? wrought with success, for which the vow was made; and so, instead of its succeeding, is destroyed, and comes to nothing. Vows made by the Jews were chiefly about their houses, or fields, or cattle; see Lev 27:28 ; and so the destruction suggested may signify the curse that God would bring upon any of these, for excusing or not performing the vow made.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (10 words)

H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H7230 רֹב
Definition:

2multitude, abundance, greatness; — absolute׳רGenesis 16:10+,רוֺב1 Chronicles 4:38; 2Chronicles 31:10 +Job 33:19Qr (Ktריב); constructרֹבExodus 15:7+ (רֹבֿJob 37:23Baer Gi),רָבֿJob 23:6+;2 Kings 19:23a 2multitude, abundance, greatness; — absolute׳רGenesis 16:10+,רוֺב1 Chronicles 4:38; 2Chronicles 31:10 +Job 33:19Qr (Ktריב); constructרֹבExodus 15:7+ (רֹבֿJob 37:23Baer Gi),רָבֿJob 23:6+;2 Kings 19:23a

H2472 חֲלוֹם
Definition:

10dream; —׳תabsoluteGenesis 37:5+, constructGenesis 20:3,חֲלֹםabsoluteGenesis 20:6, constructGenesis 31:24; suffixחֲלוֺמִיGenesis 40:9,16,חֲלֹמִיGenesis 41:17,22,חֲלֹמוֺGenesis 40:55t.; pluralחֲלֹמוֺת 10dream; —׳תabsoluteGenesis 37:5+, constructGenesis 20:3,חֲלֹםabsoluteGenesis 20:6, constructGenesis 31:24; suffixחֲלוֺמִיGenesis 40:9,16,חֲלֹמִיGenesis 41:17,22,חֲלֹמוֺGenesis 40:55t.; pluralחֲלֹמוֺת

H1892 הֶבֶל
Definition:

2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ 2+; constructהֲבֵלEcclesiastes 1:2(twice in verse);Ecclesiastes 12:8, suffixהֶבְלִיetc.Ecclesiastes 6:12;Ecclesiastes 7:15;Ecclesiastes 9:9(twice in verse); pluralהֲבָלִיםJeremiah 10:8+; constructהַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • act emptily (semantic_range)
  • become vain (semantic_range)
  • became vain (semantic_range)
  • cause to become vain (semantic_range)
H1697 דָבָר
Definition:

14446t.; constructדְּבַרGenesis 12:17361t.; suffixדְּבָרִיNumbers 11:23+ (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; pluralדְּבָרִיםExodus 4:10182t.; constructדִּבְרֵיGenesis 24:30253t.; suffixדְּבָרָיו 14446t.; constructדְּבַרGenesis 12:17361t.; suffixדְּבָרִיNumbers 11:23+ (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; pluralדְּבָרִיםExodus 4:10182t.; constructדִּבְרֵיGenesis 24:30253t.; suffixדְּבָרָיו

Possible Meanings:
  • speaking (semantic_range)
H7235 רָבָה
Definition:

A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o

Possible Meanings:
  • grow great (semantic_range)
  • grow tall and large (semantic_range)
  • make great (semantic_range)
H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H0430 אֱלהִים
Definition:

33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power 33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

Possible Meanings:
  • divine ones (semantic_range)
  • angels (semantic_range)
  • gods (semantic_range)
H3372 יָרֵא
Definition:

A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten -- affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten -- affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness

Possible Meanings:
  • shoot (semantic_range)
  • pour (semantic_range)
  • shoot with arrows (semantic_range)
  • and they shot at (semantic_range)
  • the shooters (semantic_range)

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