Ecclesiastes 7:16
"Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Be not righteous over much,.... This is not meant of true and real righteousness, even moral righteousness, a man cannot be too holy or too righteous; but of a show and ostentation of righteousness, and of such who would be thought to be more righteous and holy than others, and therefore despise those who, as they imagine, do not come up to them; and are very rigid and censorious in their judgment of others, and very severe in their reproofs of them; and, that they may appear very righteous persons, will do more than what the law requires of them to do, even works of supererogation, as the Pharisees formerly, and Papists now,

pretend, and abstain from the lawful use of things which God has given to be enjoyed; and macerate their bodies by abstinence, fastings, pilgrimages, penance, scourges, and the like, as the Eremites among the Christians, and the Turks, as Aben Ezra on the place observes; and many there be, who, by an imprudent zeal for what they judge right, and which sometimes are mere trifles, and by unseasonable reproofs for what is wrong, expose themselves to resentment and danger. Some understand this of political and punitive justice, exercising it in too strict and rigorous a manner, according to the maxim, "summum jus saepe summa injuria est" (w); and Schultens (x), from the use of the word in the Arabic language, renders it, "be not too rigid"; and others, in a contrary sense, of too much mercy and pity to offenders. So the Midrash; and Jarchi illustrates it by the case of Saul, who had mercy on the wicked, and spared Agag. The Targum is, "be not over righteous at a time that a sinner is found guilty of slaughter in thy court of judicature, that thou shouldest spare and not kill him;'' neither make thyself over wise; above what is written, or pretend to be wiser than others. So the Arabic version, "show not too much wisdom"; do not affect, as not to be more righteous than others, so not more wise, by finding fault with present times, or with the dispensations of Providence, or with the manners and conduct of men; setting up for a critic and a censurer of men and things; or do not pry into things, and seek after a knowledge of them, which are out of your reach, and beyond your capacity; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? either by living too strictly and abstemiously, or by studying too closely, or by behaving in such a manner to men, as that they will seek thy destruction, and bring it on thee: or "why shouldest thou", or "whereby", or "lest, thou shouldest be stupid" (y); lose thy sense and reason, as persons who study the knowledge of things they have not a capacity for: or why shouldest thou become foolish in the eyes of all men by thy conduct and behaviour? or, "why shouldest thou be desolate" (z); alone, and nobody care to have any conversation and acquaintance with thee? (w) Terent. Heautont. Act. 4. Sc. 4. (x) De Defect. Hod. Ling. Heb. s. 230. (y) "ut quid obstupesces?" Vatablus, Amama; "cur obstupesces?" Mercerus; "cur in stuporem te dares?" Cocceius; "qua teipsum stupidum facies?" Tigurine version; "ne obstupescas", V. L. so Sept. and Syriac versions. (z) "Ne quid desolaberis?" Pagninus, Montanus; "quare desolationem tibi accerseres?" Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (9 words)

H0408 אַל
Definition:

a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H6662 צַדִיק
Definition:

9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy; 9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy;

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)
H0408 אַל
Definition:

a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H2449 חָכַם
Definition:

15; 3feminine singularחָֽכְמָהZechariah 9:2;הָכַמְתָּProverbs 9:12(twice in verse), etc. + 3t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחְכַּםProverbs 9:9;Proverbs 21:11;וַיֶּחְכַּם1 Kings 5:11;יֶחְכָּ֑םProverbs 20:1+;וֶ֯ח 15; 3feminine singularחָֽכְמָהZechariah 9:2;הָכַמְתָּProverbs 9:12(twice in verse), etc. + 3t. Perfect;ImperfectיֶחְכַּםProverbs 9:9;Proverbs 21:11;וַיֶּחְכַּם1 Kings 5:11;יֶחְכָּ֑םProverbs 20:1+;וֶ֯ח

Possible Meanings:
  • wise (semantic_range)
  • skilful (semantic_range)
  • wise in the administration of affairs (semantic_range)
  • shrewd (semantic_range)
  • crafty (semantic_range)
H3148 יוֹתֵר
Definition:

162t.;יֹתֵרEcclesiastes 2:154t.; —superiority, advantageמַהיּֿוֺתֵר לֶחָכָם מִןהַֿכְּסִילEcclesiastes 6:8what advantage hath the wise over the fool? probably alsoיֹתֵר מֵהֵמָּהEcclesiastes 12:12(as to 162t.;יֹתֵרEcclesiastes 2:154t.; —superiority, advantageמַהיּֿוֺתֵר לֶחָכָם מִןהַֿכְּסִילEcclesiastes 6:8what advantage hath the wise over the fool? probably alsoיֹתֵר מֵהֵמָּהEcclesiastes 12:12(as to

Possible Meanings:
  • excess (semantic_range)
H4100 מָה
Definition:

43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th 43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th

Possible Meanings:
  • what? (semantic_range)
H8074 שָׁמֵם
Definition:

15, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשֹּׁם;1 Kings 9:8+, 3 masculine pluralיָשֹּׁ֫מּוּJob 17:8;Psalm 40:16, etc.;Imperativemasculine pluralשֹׁ֫מוּJeremiah 2:19;Infinitive construct(?) metaplasticשַׁ 15, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשֹּׁם;1 Kings 9:8+, 3 masculine pluralיָשֹּׁ֫מּוּJob 17:8;Psalm 40:16, etc.;Imperativemasculine pluralשֹׁ֫מוּJeremiah 2:19;Infinitive construct(?) metaplasticשַׁ

Possible Meanings:
  • be appalled (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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