Ecclesiastes 5:4 - When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Ecclesiastes 5:4" mean?
Ecclesiastes 5:4 is a warning about making promises to God and then not keeping them. Let's break it down:
"When you vow a vow to God..." This refers to making a solemn promise or commitment to God. In ancient times, vows often involved offering something of value, performing a service, or dedicating oneself to a particular purpose.
"...don’t defer to pay it..." This is the heart of the verse. It means don't delay or put off fulfilling the promise you've made. Once you've made a vow, take it seriously and act on it promptly.
"...for he has no pleasure in fools." This explains why delaying or failing to fulfill a vow is bad. God is not pleased with those who make promises they don't intend to keep. "Fools" in this context aren't necessarily unintelligent people, but rather those who are morally deficient, lacking in wisdom, and disregard their commitments to God.
"Pay that which you vow." This is a direct command to fulfill your promises to God. It emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in your relationship with the divine.
In essence, the verse teaches that:
Vows to God should be made carefully and deliberately. Don't make a vow lightly or impulsively.
Once a vow is made, it should be kept. Fulfilling your promises to God is a sign of respect, integrity, and reverence.
Failure to keep a vow is displeasing to God. It demonstrates a lack of seriousness and commitment.
The underlying principle is about integrity and honoring commitments, especially those made to God. It's better not to make a vow at all than to make one and break it.
The verse also highlights a key aspect of the relationship between humanity and God: it should be characterized by truthfulness, sincerity, and a willingness to follow through on one's word.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 - When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
What does "Ecclesiastes 5:4" mean?
Ecclesiastes 5:4 is a warning about making promises to God and then not keeping them. Let's break it down:
"When you vow a vow to God..." This refers to making a solemn promise or commitment to God. In ancient times, vows often involved offering something of value, performing a service, or dedicating oneself to a particular purpose.
"...don’t defer to pay it..." This is the heart of the verse. It means don't delay or put off fulfilling the promise you've made. Once you've made a vow, take it seriously and act on it promptly.
"...for he has no pleasure in fools." This explains why delaying or failing to fulfill a vow is bad. God is not pleased with those who make promises they don't intend to keep. "Fools" in this context aren't necessarily unintelligent people, but rather those who are morally deficient, lacking in wisdom, and disregard their commitments to God.
"Pay that which you vow." This is a direct command to fulfill your promises to God. It emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in your relationship with the divine.
In essence, the verse teaches that:
Vows to God should be made carefully and deliberately. Don't make a vow lightly or impulsively.
Once a vow is made, it should be kept. Fulfilling your promises to God is a sign of respect, integrity, and reverence.
Failure to keep a vow is displeasing to God. It demonstrates a lack of seriousness and commitment.
The underlying principle is about integrity and honoring commitments, especially those made to God. It's better not to make a vow at all than to make one and break it.
The verse also highlights a key aspect of the relationship between humanity and God: it should be characterized by truthfulness, sincerity, and a willingness to follow through on one's word.