Ecclesiastes 5:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Ecclesiastes 5:6
6 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?
Chapter Context
Ecclesiastes 5 is a philosophical reflection chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of fellowship, sacrifice, truth. Written during likely Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Royal wisdom reflections paralleled other ancient Near Eastern philosophical works.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Ecclesiastes and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Ecclesiastes 5:6
6 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?
Analysis
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.
Reflection
- Have you ever tried to excuse a broken commitment to God by calling it a "mistake" or minimizing its importance?
- How does the warning that God might "destroy the work of thine hands" motivate careful speech and promise-keeping?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Genesis 48:16, Malachi 2:7, James 1:26, 3:2, 2 John 1:8