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Ecclesiastes 5:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 5:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool`s voice with a multitude of words.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool`s voice with a multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 5:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool`s voice with a multitude of words.
4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that is was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
← Ecclesiastes 5:2Ecclesiastes 5:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, etc.] Or, “for as a dream”f115, so Aben Ezra; as that comes through a multiplicity of business in the daytime, in which the mind has been busied, and the body employed; and this brings on dreams in the night season, which are confused and incoherent; sometimes the fancy is employed about one thing, and sometimes another, and all unprofitable and useless, as well as vain and foolish; and a fool’s voice [is known] by multitude of words; either his voice in conversation, for a fool is full of words, and pours out his foolishness in a large profusion of them; or his voice in prayer, being like a man’s dream, confused, incoherent, and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As much "business," engrossing the mind, gives birth to incoherent "dreams," so many words, uttered inconsiderately in prayer, give birth to and betray "a fool's speech" (Ecc 10:14), [HOLDEN and WEISS]. But Ecc 5:7 implies that the "dream" is not a comparison, but the vain thoughts of the fool (sinner, Psa 73:20), arising from multiplicity of (worldly) "business." His "dream" is that God hears him for his much speaking (Mat 6:7), independently of the frame of mind [English Version and MAURER]. fool's voice--answers to "dream" in the parallel; it comes by the many "words" flowing from the fool's "dream."”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“A dream - When men are oppressed with business in the day, they dream of it in the night. Is known - It discovers the man to be a foolish, and rash, and inconsiderate man. Of words - Either in prayer, or in vowing, by making many rash vows, of which he speaks Ecc 5:4-6, and then returns to the mention of multitude of dreams and many words, Ecc 5:7, which verse may be a comment upon this, and which makes it probable that both that and this verse are to be understood of vows rather than of prayers. Ecclesiastes 5:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:3 Too much activity . . . too many words: Moderation should characterize our efforts and words (cp. Prov 10:19).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a fool's: Ecc 10:12-14; Pro 10:19, Pro 15:2 Ecclesiastes 5:4”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification