Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:1-3Address thyself to the worship of God, and take time to compose thyself for it. Keep thy thoughts from roving and wandering: keep thy affections from running out toward wrong objects. We should avoid vain repetitions; c…Matthew HenrycommentaryA Caution to WorshippersA CAUTION TO WORSHIPPERS. Solomon's design, in driving us off from the world, by showing us its vanity, is to drive us to God and to our duty, that we may not walk in the way of the world, but by religious rules, nor de…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:1This verse, in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles, forms the conclusion of Ecclesiastes 4:1-16; and is taken independently; but the division in our version is more natural, and the connection of this with the following…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:1-7Section 6. Man's outward and secular life being unable to secure happiness and satisfaction, can these be found in popular religion? Religious exercises need the observation of strict rules, which are far from meeting w…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:2Koheleth warns against thoughtless words or hasty professions in prayer, which formed another feature of popular religion. Be not rash with thy mouth. The warning is against hasty and thoughtless words in prayer, words…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:3The first clause illustrates the second, the mark of comparison being simply the copula, mere juxtaposition being deemed sufficient to denote the similitude, as in Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21. For a…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:4-8When 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 that his vow was made rashly, and that it would be wrong to fulfil it.…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Obligation of a VowTHE OBLIGATION OF A VOW. 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 (Numbers 30:2), by which we solemnly oblige ourselves, not only, in g…Matthew Henry