Ecclesiastes 7:21 BSB

Ecclesiastes 7:21

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

KJV

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

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Commentary

3 voices

Jerome

Commentary on Ecclesiastes (420)

"Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. For there is not a just man on the earth, that does good and does not sin. "Therefore wisdom strengthens the righteous, and not even the aid of all the citizens of the city can help him, for although someone may be righteous, yet while he is alive he is subject to vices and sins, and he therefore needs greater protection.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken,.... Seeing so it is, that imperfection attends the best of men, no man is wise at all times, foolish words and unguarded expressions will sometimes drop from him, which it is better to take no notice of; they should not be strictly attended to, and closely examined, since they will not bear it.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken - This is good advice, and much for every man’s peace through life. Thy servant curse thee - מקללך mekallelecha, make light of thee, speak evil of thee.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
גַּ֤ם	gam	also	H1571 →
לְכָל־	le.khol	to all	H3605 →
הַדְּבָרִים֙	ha.de.va.Rim	the words	H1697 →
אֲשֶׁ֣ר	'a.Sher	which	H834 →
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ	ye.da.Be.ru	people speak	H1696 →
אַל־	'al-	may not	H408 →
תִּתֵּ֖ן	ti.Ten	you give	H5414 →
לִבֶּ֑ךָ	li.Be.kha	heart your	H3820 →
אֲשֶׁ֥ר	'a.Sher	that	H834 →
לֹֽא־	lo'-	not	H3808 →
תִשְׁמַ֥ע	tish.Ma'	you will hear	H8085 →
אֶֽת־	'et-	<obj.>	H853 →
עַבְדְּךָ֖	'av.de.Kha	servant your	H5650 →
מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃	me.ka.Le.cha	cursing you	H7043 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

H7043mekalechacursing you82×

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Proverbs 30:10
Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
leads to
- Romans 14:4
  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- Daniel 3:8–18
  At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,
- 2 Chronicles 24:22–24
  Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call…
Through
Isaiah 29:21
those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
leads to
- Amos 5:10–12
  There are those who hate the one who reproves in the gate and despise him who speaks with integrity.
- James 5:6
  You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.
Through
2 Samuel 16:10
But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
leads to
- 2 Samuel 19:22
  And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed…
- Romans 9:20
  But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
Through
2 Samuel 19:19
and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.
leads to
- 1 Samuel 22:15
  Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew…

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 7 →The featured study →

Continue: Ecclesiastes 7 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Ecclesiastes

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Ecclesiastes