Ecclesiastes 7:21

Authorized King James Version

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Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

Original Language Analysis

גַּ֤ם H1571
גַּ֤ם
Strong's: H1571
Word #: 1 of 14
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 2 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַדְּבָרִים֙ unto all words H1697
הַדְּבָרִים֙ unto all words
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 3 of 14
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 4 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ that are spoken H1696
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ that are spoken
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 5 of 14
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 6 of 14
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּתֵּ֖ן Also take H5414
תִּתֵּ֖ן Also take
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 7 of 14
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לִבֶּ֑ךָ no heed H3820
לִבֶּ֑ךָ no heed
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 8 of 14
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 9 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 10 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁמַ֥ע lest thou hear H8085
תִשְׁמַ֥ע lest thou hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 11 of 14
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶֽת H853
אֶֽת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 12 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַבְדְּךָ֖ thy servant H5650
עַבְדְּךָ֖ thy servant
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 13 of 14
a servant
מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃ curse H7043
מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃ curse
Strong's: H7043
Word #: 14 of 14
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)

Analysis & Commentary

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken (גַּם אֶל־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּרוּ אַל־תִּתֵּן לִבֶּךָ, gam el-kol-had'varim asher yedabberu al-titten libekha)—literally 'do not give your heart to all the words that they speak.' The verb titten libekha means to set your heart/attention on something. Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תִשְׁמַע אֶת־עַבְדְּךָ מְקַלְלֶךָ, asher lo-tishma et-avdekha mekalelekha)—lest you hear your servant reviling/belittling you.

Qoheleth offers remarkably practical wisdom about emotional self-protection: don't monitor all conversations, or you'll inevitably hear yourself criticized. The specific example—your own eved (servant) cursing you—cuts deep because it comes from someone under your authority and receiving your provision. The wisdom isn't promoting willful ignorance but recognizing that obsessive attention to others' opinions breeds unnecessary pain. Jesus faced constant criticism yet 'when he was reviled, he did not revile in return' (1 Peter 2:23). Proverbs 26:17 similarly warns against meddling in others' quarrels. There's freedom in not needing to hear and respond to every critique.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern households included servants/slaves who naturally harbored resentments about their status. Masters who obsessively monitored servants' private conversations created toxic environments of fear and mutual suspicion.

Questions for Reflection