Ecclesiastes 7:5
in Ecclesiastes 7It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
KJV
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 7
Commentary
7 notes on this verse"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this too is vanity. "For it is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by flattering praise. Similar to this is the passage which says, "better are the wounds of a friend, than the free kisses of an enemy" [Prov. 27, 6.].
This site's exposition
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke
on Ecclesiastes 7:5-7
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools, hard words that do good against easy ones. Verse 7 warns the wise as well: extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For most people it seems to be right to avoid the critique of a wise man, especially if they like to sin. Whoever desires amusement and sin avoids the person who wants to hinder it. Whoever has no insight is pleased with flatterers, preferring flattery …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"It is better to be corrected by a wise man than to be deceived by the flattery of fools." A fool, when he is corrected, does not withdraw from evil nor is he led to good. He who recognizes his faults, and they displease him, …
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Here is noted the fifth lesson, by which severity is preferred to softness, as for example harsh rebuke to flattery. On account of which he says: "It is better to be rebuked by a wise man than to be deceived by the flattery of fools." …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Many that would be very well pleased to hear the information of the wise, and much more to have their commendations and consolations, yet do not care for hearing their rebukes, that is, care not for being told of their faults, though ever so wisely; but therein they are no friends to themselves, for reproofs of instruction are the way of life ( Prov. vi.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,....
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ט֕וֹב | tov | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ | lishmoa' | to listen to | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| גַּעֲרַ֣ת | gaarat | [the] rebuke of | H1606 → | |
| חָכָ֑ם | chakham | a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| מֵאִ֕ישׁ | meish | more than someone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| שֹׁמֵ֖עַ | shomea' | [who] listens to | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| שִׁ֥יר | shir | [the] song of | H7892 → | |
| כְּסִילִֽים׃ | kesilim | fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
ט֕וֹב[is] good
tovH2896 →538 times
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַto listen to
lishmoa'H8085 →1159 times
גַּעֲרַ֣ת[the] rebuke of
gaaratH1606 →
חָכָ֑םa wise [person]
chakhamH2450 →138 times
מֵאִ֕ישׁmore than someone
meishH376 →1663 times
שֹׁמֵ֖עַ[who] listens to
shomea'H8085 →1159 times
שִׁ֥יר[the] song of
shirH7892 →
כְּסִילִֽים׃fools
kesilimH3684 →70 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:11–12
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
- 1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
- Hebrews 12:5–11
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
- Job 5:17
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 3:11–12
Through
Psalms 141:5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds…
it leads to
- Proverbs 25:12
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Proverbs 25:12
Through
Proverbs 9:8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
- Psalms 141:5
Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds…
- Proverbs 13:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES 202:2; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.