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Ecclesiastes 5:4

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 5:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 — 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?
7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.
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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
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, etc.] Or “if thou vowest”f116, as the Vulgate Latin version; for vows are free and indifferent things, which persons may make or not; there is no precept for them in the word of God; instances and examples there are, and they may be lawfully made, when they are in the power of man to perform, and are not inconsistent with the will and word of God; they have been made by good men, and were frequent in former times; but they seem not so agreeable to the Gospel dispensation, having a tendency to ensnare the mind, to entangle men, and bring on them a spirit of bondage, contrary to that liberty wherewith Christ has made them free; and therefore it is better to…”
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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
“When thou vowest a vow unto God--Hasty words in prayer (Ecc 5:2-3) suggest the subject of hasty vows. A vow should not be hastily made (Jdg 11:35; Sa1 14:24). When made, it must be kept (Psa 76:11), even as God keeps His word to us (Exo 12:41, Exo 12:51; Jos 21:45).”
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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
“In fools - In perfidious persons, who, when they are in distress, make liberal vows, and when the danger is past, break them. Ecclesiastes 5:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:4-5 Keep all the promises you make to him: This is virtually a direct quote from the law (Deut 23:21-23; see also Prov 12:22; 20:25). Vows to God were voluntary, but once they were made, it was obligatory to keep them.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“vowest: Gen 28:20, Gen 35:1, Gen 35:3; Num 30:2; Deu 23:21-23; Psa 50:14, Psa 76:11, Psa 119:106; Isa 19:21; Mat 5:33 for: Psa 147:10, Psa 147:11; Mal 1:10; Heb 10:6 pay: Psa 66:13, Psa 66:14, Psa 116:14, Psa 116:16-18; Jon 2:9 Ecclesiastes 5:5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"When thou hast made a vow to God, delay not to fulfil it; for there is no pleasure in fools: that which thou hast vowed fulfil. Better that thou vowest not, than that thou vowest and fulfillest not. Let not thy mouth bring thy body into punishment; and say not before the messenger of God that it was precipitation: why shall God be angry at thy talk, and destroy the work of thy hands? For in many dreams and words there are also many vanities: much rather fear God!" If they abstained, after Shabbath 30b, from treating the Book of Koheleth as apocryphal, because it begins with תורה דברי (cf. at Ecc 1:3) and closes in the same way, and hence warrants the conclusion that that which lies between…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification