Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 5:2–3

²Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

³As a dream comes through many cares,

so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be quick	תְּבַהֵ֨ל	tə·ḇa·hêl	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H926 alarm, dismay
to	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
speak	פִּ֜יךָ	pî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
and do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be hasty	יְמַהֵ֛ר	yə·ma·hêr	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4116 hasten
in your heart	וְלִבְּךָ֧	wə·lib·bə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
to utter	לְהוֹצִ֥יא	lə·hō·w·ṣî	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H3318 go or come out
a word	דָבָ֖ר	ḏā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
before	לִפְנֵ֣י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
God	הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
For	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
God	הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
is in heaven	בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙	baš·šā·ma·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
and you	וְאַתָּ֣ה	wə·’at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
are on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
earth	הָאָ֔רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
So	עַֽל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
let your words	דְבָרֶ֖יךָ	ḏə·ḇā·re·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
be	יִהְי֥וּ	yih·yū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
few	מְעַטִּֽים׃	mə·‘aṭ·ṭîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H4592 a little, fewness, a few

Ecclesiastes 5:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
As	כִּ֛י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a dream	הַחֲל֖וֹם	ha·ḥă·lō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2472 dream
comes	בָּ֥א	bā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
through many	בְּרֹ֣ב	bə·rōḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
cares	עִנְיָ֑ן	‘in·yān	Noun - masculine singular	H6045 occupation, task
so the speech	וְק֥וֹל	wə·qō·wl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H6963 sound, voice
of a fool	כְּסִ֖יל	kə·sîl	Noun - masculine singular	H3684 stupid fellow, dullard, fool
with many	בְּרֹ֥ב	bə·rōḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
words	דְּבָרִֽים׃	də·ḇā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Matthew 6:7 · Proverbs 10:19 · Isaiah 55:9 · Matthew 6:9 · Numbers 30:2–5 · Ecclesiastes 5:7 · Ecclesiastes 5:3 · Genesis 18:27 · Genesis 28:20 · Proverbs 20:25 · James 3:2 · Psalm 115:3

Ecclesiastes 5:3 Proverbs 15:2 · Ecclesiastes 10:12–14 · Proverbs 10:19 · Job 11:2

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.