Deep Dive

Ecclesiastes 7:4

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The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 4

Solomon had given many proofs and instances of the vanity of this world and the things of it; now, in this chapter, I. He recommends to us some good means proper to be used for the redress of these grievances and the arming of ourselves against the mischief we are in danger of from them, that we may make the best of the bad, as 1. Care of our reputation (Ecc 7:1). 2. Seriousness (Ecc 7:2-6). 3. Calmness of spirit (Ecc 7:7-10). 4. Prudence in the management of all our affairs (Ecc 7:11, Ecc 7:12). 5. Submission to the will of God in all events, accommodating ourselves to every condition (Ecc 7:13-15). 6. A conscientious avoiding of all dangerous extremes (Ecc 7:16-18). 7. Mildness and tenderness towards those that have been injurious to us (Ecc 7:19-22). In short, the best way to save ourselves from the vexation which the vanity of the world creates us is to keep our temper and to maintain a strict government of our passions. II. He laments his own iniquity, as that which was more vexatious than any of these vanities, that mystery of iniquity, the having of many wives, by which he was drawn away from God and his duty (Ecc 7:23-29).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 4

לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֵבֶל (ʼêbel, H60) — lamentation כְּסִיל (kᵉçîyl, H3684) — properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Samuel 25:36rank 4

When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

Hosea 7:5rank 3

The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.

Isaiah 21:4rank 3

My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror.

Daniel 5:30rank 3

That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain,

I Samuel 30:16rank 3

So he led David down, and there were the Amalekites spread out over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.

Jeremiah 51:39rank 3

While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 51:57rank 3

I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

I Kings 20:16rank 3

They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.

II Samuel 13:28rank 2

Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

Nahum 1:10rank 1

For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry.

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