
Text -- Ecclesiastes 5:4 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Ecc 5:4
Wesley: Ecc 5:4 - -- In perfidious persons, who, when they are in distress, make liberal vows, and when the danger is past, break them.
In perfidious persons, who, when they are in distress, make liberal vows, and when the danger is past, break them.
JFB -> Ecc 5:4
JFB: Ecc 5:4 - -- Hasty words in prayer (Ecc 5:2-3) suggest the subject of hasty vows. A vow should not be hastily made (Jdg 11:35; 1Sa 14:24). When made, it must be ke...
Clarke -> Ecc 5:4
Clarke: Ecc 5:4 - -- When thou vowest a vow - When in distress and difficulty, men are apt to promise much to God if he will relieve them; but generally forget the vow w...
When thou vowest a vow - When in distress and difficulty, men are apt to promise much to God if he will relieve them; but generally forget the vow when the distress or trouble is gone by.
TSK -> Ecc 5:4
TSK: Ecc 5:4 - -- vowest : Gen 28:20, Gen 35:1, Gen 35:3; Num 30:2; Deu 23:21-23; Psa 50:14, Psa 76:11, Psa 119:106; Isa 19:21; Mat 5:33
for : Psa 147:10, Psa 147:11; M...
vowest : Gen 28:20, Gen 35:1, Gen 35:3; Num 30:2; Deu 23:21-23; Psa 50:14, Psa 76:11, Psa 119:106; Isa 19:21; Mat 5:33
for : Psa 147:10, Psa 147:11; Mal 1:10; Heb 10:6
pay : Psa 66:13, Psa 66:14, Psa 116:14, Psa 116:16-18; Jon 2:9

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole -> Ecc 5:4
Poole: Ecc 5:4 - -- A vow which is a solemn promise, whereby a man binds himself to do something which is in his power to do.
Defer not to pay it perform it whilst the...
A vow which is a solemn promise, whereby a man binds himself to do something which is in his power to do.
Defer not to pay it perform it whilst the sense of thine obligation is fresh and strong upon thee, lest either thou seem to repent of thy promises, or lest delays end in denials and resolutions of non-performance. See Num 30:2 Deu 23:21 Psa 66:13,14 66:11 .
In fools in hypocritical and perfidious persons, who, when they are in distress, make liberal vows, and when the danger is past, neglect and break them; whom he calls fools , partly because it is the highest folly to despise and provoke, to think to mock and deceive, the all-seeing and almighty God; and partly in opposition to the contrary opinion of such persons, who think they deal wisely and cunningly in serving themselves of God, by getting the advantage or deliverance which they desire by making such vows, and yet avoiding the inconvenience and charge of payment when once the work is done, whereas nothing is more impious or ridiculous than such an imagination.
Gill -> Ecc 5:4
Gill: Ecc 5:4 - -- When thou vowest a vow unto God,.... Or "if thou vowest" r, as the Vulgate Latin version; for vows are free and indifferent things, which persons may ...
When thou vowest a vow unto God,.... Or "if thou vowest" r, as the Vulgate Latin version; for vows are free and indifferent things, which persons may make or not; there is no precept for them in the word of God; instances and examples there are, and they may be lawfully made, when they are in the power of man to perform, and are not inconsistent with the will and word of God; they have been made by good men, and were frequent in former times; but they seem not so agreeable to the Gospel dispensation, having a tendency to ensnare the mind, to entangle men, and bring on them a spirit of bondage, contrary to that liberty wherewith Christ has made them free; and therefore it is better to abstain from them: holy resolutions to do the will and work of God should be taken up in the strength of divine grace; but to vow this, or that, or the other thing, which a man previous to his vow is not obliged unto, had better be let alone: but however, when a vow is made that is lawful to be done,
defer not to pay it; that is, to God, to whom it is made, who expects it, and that speedily, as Hannah paid hers; no excuses nor delays should be made;
for he hath no pleasure in fools; that is, the Lord hath no pleasure in them, he will not be mocked by them; he will resent such treatment of him, as to vow and not pay, or defer payment and daily, with him. So the Targum,
"for the Lord hath no pleasure in fools, because, they defer their vows, and do not pay;''
pay that which thou hast vowed; precisely and punctually; both as to the matter, manner, and time of it.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Ecc 5:1-20
TSK Synopsis: Ecc 5:1-20 - --1 Vanities in divine service;8 in murmuring against oppression;9 and in riches.18 Joy in riches is the gift of God.
Maclaren -> Ecc 5:2-13
Maclaren: Ecc 5:2-13 - --Lessons For Worship And For Work
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools : ...
MHCC -> Ecc 5:4-8
MHCC: Ecc 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 t...
Matthew Henry -> Ecc 5:4-8
Matthew Henry: Ecc 5:4-8 - -- Four things we are exhorted to in these verses: - I. To be conscientious in paying our vows. 1. A vow is a bond upon the soul (Num 30:2), by which ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Ecc 5:4-7
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 5:4-7 - --
"When thou hast made a vow to God, delay not to fulfil it; for there is no pleasure in fools: that which thou hast vowed fulfil. Better that thou vo...
Constable: Ecc 2:18--6:10 - --B. General Observations 2:18-6:9
Thus far Solomon had reflected on the futility of all human endeavor ge...

Constable: Ecc 5:1--6:10 - --4. The perishable fruits of labor 5:1-6:9
This section emphasizes the folly of trying to find ul...
