The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:7 Explained

Ecclesiastes 5:7

KJV: For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

YLT: For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

Darby: For in the multitude of dreams are vanities; so with many words: but fear God.

ASV: For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For in the multitude  of dreams  and many  words  [there are] also [divers] vanities:  but fear  thou God. 

What does Ecclesiastes 5:7 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 5

1  vanities in divine service
8  in murmuring against oppression
9  and in riches
18  Joy in riches is the gift of God

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 5:7 mean?

for in the multitude of dreams and [there is] vanity And words many but - God fear
כִּ֣י בְרֹ֤ב חֲלֹמוֹת֙ וַהֲבָלִ֔ים וּדְבָרִ֖ים הַרְבֵּ֑ה כִּ֥י אֶת־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרָֽא

בְרֹ֤ב  in  the  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
חֲלֹמוֹת֙  of  dreams 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
וַהֲבָלִ֔ים  and  [there  is]  vanity 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: הֶבֶל  
Sense: vapour, breath.
וּדְבָרִ֖ים  And  words 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַרְבֵּ֑ה  many 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְרָֽא  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.