
Text -- Ecclesiastes 7:7 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Ecc 7:7
Wesley: Ecc 7:7 - -- A bribe given to a wise man, deprives him of the use of his understanding. So this verse discovers two ways whereby a wise man may be made mad, by suf...
A bribe given to a wise man, deprives him of the use of his understanding. So this verse discovers two ways whereby a wise man may be made mad, by suffering oppression from others, or by receiving bribes to oppress others. And this also is an argument of the vanity of worldly wisdom that is so easily corrupted and lost.
JFB: Ecc 7:7 - -- Recurring to the idea (Ecc 3:16; Ecc 5:8). Its connection with Ecc 7:4-6 is, the sight of "oppression" perpetrated by "fools" might tempt the "wise" t...
Recurring to the idea (Ecc 3:16; Ecc 5:8). Its connection with Ecc 7:4-6 is, the sight of "oppression" perpetrated by "fools" might tempt the "wise" to call in question God's dispensations, and imitate the folly (equivalent to "madness") described (Ecc 7:5,6). WEISS, for "oppression," translates, "distraction," produced by merriment. But Ecc 5:8 favors English Version.

JFB: Ecc 7:7 - -- That is, the sight of bribery in "places of judgment" (Ecc 3:16) might cause the wise to lose their wisdom (equivalent to "heart"), (Job 12:6; Job 21:...
That is, the sight of bribery in "places of judgment" (Ecc 3:16) might cause the wise to lose their wisdom (equivalent to "heart"), (Job 12:6; Job 21:6-7; Job 24:1, &c.). This suits the parallelism better than "a heart of gifts"; a benevolent heart, as WEISS.
Clarke -> Ecc 7:7
Clarke: Ecc 7:7 - -- Oppression maketh a wise man mad - This has been translated with good show of reason, "Surely oppression shall give lustre to a wise man: but a gift...
Oppression maketh a wise man mad - This has been translated with good show of reason, "Surely oppression shall give lustre to a wise man: but a gift corrupteth the heart.
The chief difference here is in the word
TSK -> Ecc 7:7

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Ecc 7:7
Barnes: Ecc 7:7 - -- Rather, oppression (or extortions) maketh a wise man foolish; and a bribe etc. If a wise man, being in a high position, exercises oppression (see Ps...
Rather, oppression (or extortions) maketh a wise man foolish; and a bribe etc. If a wise man, being in a high position, exercises oppression (see Psa 62:10), or practices extortion, he becomes a fool in so doing. This verse is a warning against impatience in the exercise of power or the acquisition of riches.
Poole -> Ecc 7:7
Poole: Ecc 7:7 - -- Oppression either,
1. Active. When a wise man falls into the practice of this sin of oppressing others, he is besotted by it, and by the vast riches...
Oppression either,
1. Active. When a wise man falls into the practice of this sin of oppressing others, he is besotted by it, and by the vast riches which he by his great wit gets by it. Or rather,
2. Passive. When a wise man is oppressed by foolish and wicked men, it makes him fret and rage, and speak or act like a madman; for the wisest men are most sensible of indignities and injuries, whereas fools are stupid, and do not much lay them to heart.
A gift a bribe given to a wise man,
destroyeth the heart deprives him of the use of his understanding, which is oft called the heart, as Exo 23:8 Deu 16:19 Hos 4:8 , or makes him mad, as was said in the former clause. So this verse discovers two ways whereby a wise man may be made mad, by suffering oppression from others, or by receiving bribes to oppress others. And this also is an argument of the vanity of worldly wisdom, that it is so easily corrupted and lost, and so it serves the main design of this book.
Haydock -> Ecc 7:7
Haydock: Ecc 7:7 - -- Laughter. It is loud and soon over, Ecclesiasticus xxi. 23., and Luke xxvi. 5. (Calmet)
Laughter. It is loud and soon over, Ecclesiasticus xxi. 23., and Luke xxvi. 5. (Calmet)
Gill -> Ecc 7:7
Gill: Ecc 7:7 - -- Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad,.... Which is to be understood either passively, when he is oppressed by others, or sees others oppressed; it ...
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad,.... Which is to be understood either passively, when he is oppressed by others, or sees others oppressed; it raises indignation in him, disturbs his mind, and he is ready to pass a wrong judgment on the dispensations of Providence, and to say rash and unadvised things concerning them, Psa 73:2; or actively, of oppression with which he oppresses others; when he gives into such measures, his wisdom departs from him, his mind is besotted, he acts the part of a madman, and pierces himself through with many sorrows. Some understand this of wealth got in an ill way; or of gifts given to bribe men to do injury to others; and which the following clause is thought to explain;
and a gift destroyeth the heart; blinds the eyes of judges other ways wise; perverts their judgment, and causes them to pass a wrong sentence, as well as perverts justice: or, "and destroys the heart of gifts" k; a heart that is possessed of the gifts of wisdom and knowledge; or a munificent heart, a heart disposed to give bountifully and liberally, that oppression destroys and renders useless.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Ecc 7:7 Or “and a bribe drives a person mad.” The noun לֵב (lev, “heart”) may be taken as a synecdoche of part (i.e....
Geneva Bible -> Ecc 7:7
Geneva Bible: Ecc 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man ( e ) mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
( e ) A man that is esteemed wise, when he falls to oppression, becom...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Ecc 7:1-29
TSK Synopsis: Ecc 7:1-29 - --1 Remedies against vanity are, a good name;2 mortification;7 patience;11 wisdom.23 The difficulty of wisdom.
MHCC -> Ecc 7:7-10
MHCC: Ecc 7:7-10 - --The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and h...
Matthew Henry -> Ecc 7:7-10
Matthew Henry: Ecc 7:7-10 - -- Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the sun, which gave occasion for many melancholy speculations and were...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Ecc 7:7
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 7:7 - --
Without further trying to explain the mystery of the כי , we translate this verse: "... For oppression maketh wise men mad, and corruption destro...
Constable: Ecc 6:10--11:7 - --III. THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM 6:10--11:6
Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of 6:10-11:6. The phr...

Constable: Ecc 7:1--8:17 - --B. God's Inscrutable Plan chs. 7-8
Solomon proceeded in this section to focus on the plan of God, His de...
