The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:4 Explained

Ecclesiastes 5:4

KJV: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

YLT: When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.

Darby: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

ASV: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When thou vowest  a vow  unto God,  defer  not to pay  it; for [he hath] no pleasure  in fools:  pay  that which thou hast vowed. 

What does Ecclesiastes 5:4 Mean?

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 5:4 mean?

When you make a vow to God not do delay to pay it for [He has] no pleasure in fools - What you have vowed Pay
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־ תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם

תִּדֹּ֨ר  you  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָדַר  
Sense: to vow, make a vow.
נֶ֜דֶר  a  vow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵדֶר  
Sense: vow, votive offering.
לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים  to  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
תְּאַחֵר֙  do  delay 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָחַר  
Sense: to delay, hesitate, tarry, defer, remain behind.
לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ  to  pay  it 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
אֵ֥ין  [He  has]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
חֵ֖פֶץ  pleasure 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים  in  fools 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
אֵ֥ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תִּדֹּ֖ר  you  have  vowed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָדַר  
Sense: to vow, make a vow.
שַׁלֵּֽם  Pay 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .