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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 7:16 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 7:16 |
Strong Concordance |
Be not righteous [06662] over much [07235]; neither make thyself over [03148] wise [02449]: why shouldest thou destroy [08074] thyself? |
| |
King James |
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
HOLDEN makes Ecc 7:16 the scoffing inference of the objector, and Ecc 7:17 the answer of Solomon, now repentant. So (Co1 15:32) the skeptic's objection; (Co1 15:33) the answer. However, "Be not righteous over much," may be taken as Solomon's words, forbidding a self-made righteousness of outward performances, which would wrest salvation from God, instead of receiving it as the gift of His grace. It is a fanatical, pharisaical righteousness, separated from God; for the "fear of God" is in antithesis to it (Ecc 7:18; Ecc 5:3, Ecc 5:7; Mat 6:1-7; Mat 9:14; Mat 23:23-24; Rom 10:3; Ti1 4:3).
over wise-- (Job 11:12; Rom 12:3, Rom 12:16), presumptuously self-sufficient, as if acquainted with the whole of divine truth.
destroy thyself--expose thyself to needless persecution, austerities and the wrath of God; hence to an untimely death. "Destroy thyself" answers to "perisheth" (Ecc 7:15); "righteous over much," to "a just man." Therefore in Ecc 7:15 it is self-justiciary, not a truly righteous man, that is meant. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Be not righteous
See; (Ecc 7:16); (Ecc 7:17) Natural wisdom: be moderately religious and moderately wicked. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Be not - This verse and the next have a manifest reference to Ecc 7:15, being two inferences drawn from the two clauses of the observation. Solomon here speaks in the person of an ungodly man, who takes occasion to dissuade men from righteousness, because of the danger which attends it. Therefore, saith he, take heed of strictness, zeal, and forwardness in religion. And the next verse contains an antidote to this suggestion; yea, rather saith he, be not wicked or foolish overmuch; for that will not preserve thee, as thou mayest imagine, but will occasion and hasten thy ruin. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? - תשומם tishshomem, make thyself desolate, so that thou shalt be obliged to stand alone; neither make thyself over-wise, תתחכם tithchaccam, do not pretend to abundance of wisdom. Why shouldest thou be so singular? In other words, and in modern language, "There is no need of all this watching, fasting, praying, self-denial, etc., you carry things to extremes. Why should you wish to be reputed singular and precise?" To this the man of God answers: |
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].
16 Be of the same [846] mind [5426] one toward another [1519] [240]. Mind [5426] not [3361] high things [5308], but [235] condescend [4879] to men of low estate [5011]. Be [1096] not [3361] wise [5429] in [3844] your own conceits [1438].
3 For [1063] I say [3004], through [1223] the grace [5485] given [1325] unto me [3427], to every man [3956] that is [5607] among [1722] you [5213], not [3361] to think of himself more [3844] highly [5252] than [3739] he ought [1163] to think [5426]; but [235] to think [5426] soberly [1519] [4993], according as [5613] God [2316] hath dealt [3307] to every man [1538] the measure [3358] of faith [4102].
12 For vain [05014] man [0376] would be wise [03823], though man [0120] be born [03205] like a wild ass's [06501] colt [05895].
3 Forbidding [2967] to marry [1060], and commanding to abstain from [567] meats [1033], which [3739] God [2316] hath created [2936] to [1519] be received [3336] with [3326] thanksgiving [2169] of them which believe [4103] and [2532] know [1921] the truth [225].
3 For [1063] they being ignorant [50] of God's [2316] righteousness [1343], and [2532] going about [2212] to establish [2476] their own [2398] righteousness [1343], have [5293] not [3756] submitted themselves [5293] unto the righteousness [1343] of God [2316].
23 Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye pay tithe [586] of mint [2238] and [2532] anise [432] and [2532] cummin [2951], and [2532] have omitted [863] the weightier [926] matters of the law [3551], judgment [2920], [2532] mercy [1656], and [2532] faith [4102]: these [5023] ought ye [1163] to have done [4160], and not [3361] to leave [863] the other [2548] undone [863].
24 Ye blind [5185] guides [3595], which strain at [1368] a gnat [2971], and [1161] swallow [2666] a camel [2574].
14 Then [5119] came [4334] to him [846] the disciples [3101] of John [2491], saying [3004], Why [1302] do we [2249] and [2532] the Pharisees [5330] fast [3522] oft [4183], but [1161] thy [4675] disciples [3101] fast [3522] not [3756]?
1 Take heed [4337] that ye do [4160] not [3361] your [5216] alms [1654] before [1715] men [444], to be seen [4314] [2300] of them [846]: otherwise [1490] ye have [2192] no [3756] reward [3408] of [3844] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
2 Therefore [3767] when [3752] thou doest [4160] thine alms [1654], do [4537] not [3361] sound a trumpet [4537] before [1715] thee [4675], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] do [4160] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the streets [4505], that [3704] they may have glory [1392] of [5259] men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
3 But [1161] when thou [4675] doest [4160] alms [1654], let [1097] not [3361] thy [4675] left hand [710] know [1097] what [5101] thy [4675] right hand [1188] doeth [4160]:
4 That [3704] thine [4675] alms [1654] may be [5600] in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] himself [846] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
5 And [2532] when [3752] thou prayest [4336], thou shalt [2071] not [3756] be [2071] as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] are: for [3754] they love [5368] to pray [4336] standing [2476] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the corners [1137] of the streets [4113], that [3704] they may [302] be seen [5316] of men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
6 But [1161] thou [4771], when [3752] thou prayest [4336], enter [1525] into [1519] thy [4675] closet [5009], and [2532] when thou hast shut [2808] thy [4675] door [2374], pray [4336] to thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] secret [2927]; and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
7 But [1161] when ye pray [4336], use [945] not [3361] vain repetitions [945], as [5618] the heathen [1482] do: for [1063] they think [1380] that [3754] they shall be heard [1522] for [1722] their [846] much speaking [4180].
7 For in the multitude [07230] of dreams [02472] and many [07235] words [01697] there are also divers vanities [01892]: but fear [03372] thou God [0430].
3 For a dream [02472] cometh [0935] through the multitude [07230] of business [06045]; and a fool's [03684] voice [06963] is known by multitude [07230] of words [01697].
18 It is good [02896] that thou shouldest take hold [0270] of this; yea, also from this [02088] withdraw [03240] not thine hand [03027]: for he that feareth [03373] God [0430] shall come forth [03318] of them all.
33 Be [4105] not [3361] deceived [4105]: evil [2556] communications [3657] corrupt [5351] good [5543] manners [2239].
32 If [1487] after the manner [2596] of men [444] I have fought with beasts [2341] at [1722] Ephesus [2181], what [5101] advantageth it [3786] me [3427], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756]? let us eat [5315] and [2532] drink [4095]; for [1063] to morrow [839] we die [599].
17 Be not over much [07235] wicked [07561], neither be thou foolish [05530]: why shouldest thou die [04191] before thy time [06256]?
16 Be not righteous [06662] over much [07235]; neither make thyself over [03148] wise [02449]: why shouldest thou destroy [08074] thyself?
17 Be not over much [07235] wicked [07561], neither be thou foolish [05530]: why shouldest thou die [04191] before thy time [06256]?
16 Be not righteous [06662] over much [07235]; neither make thyself over [03148] wise [02449]: why shouldest thou destroy [08074] thyself?
15 All things have I seen [07200] in the days [03117] of my vanity [01892]: there is [03426] a just [06662] man that perisheth [06] in his righteousness [06664], and there is a wicked [07563] man that prolongeth [0748] his life in his wickedness [07451].