Ecclesiastes 5:6

Authorized King James Version

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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?

Original Language Analysis

אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 1 of 23
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּתֵּ֤ן Suffer H5414
תִּתֵּ֤ן Suffer
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 2 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 3 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
פִּ֙יךָ֙ not thy mouth H6310
פִּ֙יךָ֙ not thy mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 4 of 23
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
לַחֲטִ֣יא to sin H2398
לַחֲטִ֣יא to sin
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 5 of 23
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 6 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּשָׂרֶ֔ךָ to cause thy flesh H1320
בְּשָׂרֶ֔ךָ to cause thy flesh
Strong's: H1320
Word #: 7 of 23
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
וְאַל H408
וְאַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 8 of 23
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תֹּאמַר֙ neither say H559
תֹּאמַר֙ neither say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 9 of 23
to say (used with great latitude)
לִפְנֵ֣י thou before H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י thou before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 10 of 23
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ the angel H4397
הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ the angel
Strong's: H4397
Word #: 11 of 23
a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 12 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שְׁגָגָ֖ה that it was an error H7684
שְׁגָגָ֖ה that it was an error
Strong's: H7684
Word #: 13 of 23
a mistake or inadvertent transgression
הִ֑יא H1931
הִ֑יא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 14 of 23
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
לָ֣מָּה H4100
לָ֣מָּה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 15 of 23
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יִקְצֹ֤ף be angry H7107
יִקְצֹ֤ף be angry
Strong's: H7107
Word #: 16 of 23
to crack off, i.e., (figuratively) burst out in rage
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ wherefore should God H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ wherefore should God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 17 of 23
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 18 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
קוֹלֶ֔ךָ at thy voice H6963
קוֹלֶ֔ךָ at thy voice
Strong's: H6963
Word #: 19 of 23
a voice or sound
וְחִבֵּ֖ל and destroy H2254
וְחִבֵּ֖ל and destroy
Strong's: H2254
Word #: 20 of 23
to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e., to bind; specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also to writhe in pain (especially of partur
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 21 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה the work H4639
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה the work
Strong's: H4639
Word #: 22 of 23
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יָדֶֽיךָ׃ of thine hands H3027
יָדֶֽיךָ׃ of thine hands
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 23 of 23
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Analysis & Commentary

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin—the Hebrew basar (בָּשָׂר, flesh) means your whole person, not just physical body. Careless speech (peh, פֶּה, mouth) leads to guilt requiring sacrifice or judgment. Rash vows create obligations one cannot fulfill, thus causing sin.

Neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error—the mal'akh (מַלְאָךְ, angel/messenger) may refer to the priest who received vow-offerings (Malachi 2:7) or to God's angelic witness. Claiming shegagah (שְׁגָגָה, error/mistake) doesn't excuse broken vows—they were voluntary commitments. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?—unfulfilled vows provoke divine qatsaph (קָצַף, anger/wrath), resulting in cursed labor. This echoes Haggai 1:6-11, where disobedience brought frustration to work. The warning is severe: treat God's name and your word with utmost seriousness.

Historical Context

Ancient Israelite worship involved priests who mediated between people and God. When someone made a vow, they would eventually bring the vow-offering to the priest. Attempting to retract a vow by claiming it was a mistake would not be accepted—the vow had invoked God's name as witness. Leviticus 5:4-6 addresses rash oaths requiring guilt offerings. Numbers 30 allows fathers and husbands to nullify certain vows immediately, but personal vows stood. The seriousness of God's anger at broken vows reflects covenant theology: God keeps His word absolutely, and His people must reflect His character. New Testament parallels appear in Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), who lied about their offering and faced immediate judgment. The principle remains: God takes His name and our word seriously.

Questions for Reflection