Ecclesiastes 5:6

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, etc.] That is, himself, who is corrupt and depraved; either by making a rash vow, which it is not in his power to keep; or such is the corruption of his nature, and the weakness of the flesh, that he cannot keep it; or by making sinful excuses after he has made the vow, and so is guilty of lying, or false swearing, or other sins of the flesh. Jarchi by “flesh” understands his children, on whom his iniquity may be visited and punished; and the Targum interprets this punishment of the judgment or condemnation of hell; (see <202025>Proverbs 20:25); neither say thou before the angel that it [was] an error; that it was done ignorantly and through…”

“thy flesh--Vow not with "thy mouth" a vow (for example, fasting), which the lusts of the flesh ("body," Ecc 2:3, Margin) may tempt thee to break (Pro 20:25). angel--the "messenger" of God (Job 33:23); minister (Rev 1:20); that is, the priest (Mal 2:7) "before" whom a breach of a vow was to be confessed (Lev 5:4-5). We, Christians, in our vows (for example, at baptism, the Lord's Supper, &c.) vow in the presence of Jesus Christ, "the angel of the covenant" (Mal 3:1), and of ministering angels as witnesses (Co1 11:10; Ti1 5:21). Extenuate not any breach of them as a slight error.”

“Suffer not thy mouth ... - i. e., Do not make rash vows which may hereafter be the cause of evasion and prevarication, and remain unfulfilled. Before the angel - The Septuagint and some other versions render “before the face of God,” meaning a spiritual being representing the presence of God, a minister of divine justice Exodus 23:21, such a one as inflicted judgment upon David 2 Samuel 24:17. Others, with less probability, understand the angel to be a priest, and refer to Malachi 2:7. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Thy mouth - By any rash vow. Thy flesh - Thyself, the word flesh being often put for the whole man. The angel - The priest or ministers of holy things. Such persons are often called angels, or, as this Hebrew word is commonly rendered, messengers. And this title seems to be given to the priest here, because the vow made to God, was paid to the priest as one standing and acting in God's name and stead, and it belonged to him, as God's angel or ambassador, to discharge persons from their vows when there was just occasion. It was - I did unadvisedly in making such a vow. Angry - Why wilt thou provoke God to anger at these frivolous excuses? Destroy - Blast all thy labours, and particularly that…”

“thy mouth: Ecc 5:1, Ecc 5:2; Jam 1:26, Jam 3:2 before: Or, "before the messenger," hammalach, the priest whose business it was to take cognizance of vows and offerings. Lev 5:4, Lev 5:5; Gen 48:16; Hos 12:4, Hos 12:5; Mal 2:7, Mal 3:1; Act 7:30-35; Co1 11:10; Ti1 5:21; Heb 1:14 it was: Lev 5:4-6, Lev 27:9, Lev 27:10 destroy: Hag 1:9-11, Hag 2:14-17; Co1 3:13-15; Jo2 1:8 Ecclesiastes 5:7”