Ecclesiastes 7:5

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.7.5", "source": "טוֹב לִשְׁמֹעַ גַּעֲרַת חָכָם מֵאִישׁ שֹׁמֵעַ שִׁיר כְּסִילִים", "text": "*Ṭôḇ* *lišmōaʿ* *gaʿăraṯ* *ḥāḵām* from-*ʾîš* *šōmēaʿ* *šîr* *kəsîlîm*", "grammar": { "*Ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - good/better", "*lišmōaʿ*": "Qal infinitive construct with preposition - to hear", "*gaʿăraṯ*": "noun, feminine singular construct - rebuke of", "*ḥāḵām*": "adjective, masculine singular - wise person", "*ʾîš*": "noun, masculine singular - man", "*šōmēaʿ*": "Qal participle, masculine singular - hearing/listening to", "*šîr*": "noun, masculine singular construct - song of", "*kəsîlîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - fools" }, "variants": { "*Ṭôḇ*": "better/more beneficial", "*gaʿăraṯ*": "rebuke/reproof/correction", "*ḥāḵām*": "wise person/sage", "*šîr* *kəsîlîm*": "song of fools/frivolous singing" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב לִשְׁמֹעַ גַּעֲרַת חָכָם מֵאִישׁ שֹׁמֵעַ שִׁיר כְּסִילִים

Transliteration

Ṭôḇ lišmōaʿ gaʿăraṯ ḥāḵām from-ʾîš šōmēaʿ šîr kəsîlîm

Grammar Details

• *Ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/better
• *lišmōaʿ*: Qal infinitive construct with preposition - to hear
• *gaʿăraṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - rebuke of
• *ḥāḵām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise person
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
• *šōmēaʿ*: Qal participle, masculine singular - hearing/listening to
• *šîr*: noun, masculine singular construct - song of
• *kəsîlîm*: adjective, masculine plural - fools

Word Meanings

• *Ṭôḇ*: better/more beneficial
• *gaʿăraṯ*: rebuke/reproof/correction
• *ḥāḵām*: wise person/sage
• *šîr* *kəsîlîm*: song of fools/frivolous singing

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  It is better{H2896} to hear{H8085} the rebuke{H1606} of the wise,{H2450} than for a man{H376} to hear{H8085} the song{H7892} of fools.{H3684}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  It is better{H2896} to hear{H8085}{(H8800)} the rebuke{H1606} of the wise{H2450}, than for a man{H376} to hear{H8085}{(H8802)} the song{H7892} of fools{H3684}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  It is better to geue eare to the chastenynge of a wyse man, then to heare the songe of fooles.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  (7:7) Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  It is better to geue eare to the chastening of a wyse man, then to heare the songue of fooles:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than `for' a man to hear a song of fools,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 141:5 : 5 { "verseID": "Psalms.141.5", "source": "יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽנִי־צַדִּ֨יק ׀ חֶ֡סֶד וְֽיוֹכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן רֹ֭אשׁ אַל־יָנִ֣י רֹאשִׁ֑י כִּי־ע֥וֹד ו֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י בְּרָעוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃", "text": "*Yehelmēnî*-*ṣaddîq* *ḥesed* *wəyôkîḥēnî* [and let him rebuke me]; *šemen* *rō'š* not-*yānî* *rō'šî* [my head]; for-still *ûtəpillātî* [and my prayer] in-*rā'ôtêhem* [their evils].", "grammar": { "*Yehelmēnî*": "verb, qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - he will strike me", "*ṣaddîq*": "adjective, masculine singular - righteous/just", "*ḥesed*": "noun, masculine singular - kindness/lovingkindness", "*wəyôkîḥēnî*": "verb, hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix with waw consecutive - and let him rebuke me", "*šemen*": "noun, masculine singular construct - oil", "*rō'š*": "noun, masculine singular - head/chief/top", "*yānî*": "verb, hiphil jussive 3rd person masculine singular - let it refuse/deny", "*rō'šî*": "noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix - my head", "*ûtəpillātî*": "noun, feminine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix with waw conjunction - and my prayer", "*rā'ôtêhem*": "noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their evils/calamities" }, "variants": { "*Yehelmēnî*": "let him strike me/let him wound me", "*ṣaddîq*": "righteous one/just person", "*ḥesed*": "kindness/lovingkindness/mercy/favor", "*wəyôkîḥēnî*": "and let him rebuke me/and let him correct me", "*šemen*": "oil/fat/richness", "*rō'š*": "head/chief/top/choice oil", "*yānî*": "let it refuse/let it deny/let it break", "*rā'ôtêhem*": "their evils/their calamities/their wickedness" } }
• Prov 15:31-32 : 31 { "verseID": "Proverbs.15.31", "source": "אֹ֗זֶן שֹׁ֖‪[d]‬מַעַת תּוֹכַ֣חַת חַיִּ֑ים בְּקֶ֖רֶב חֲכָמִ֣ים תָּלִֽין׃", "text": "*ʾōzen šōmaʿat tôḵaḥat ḥayyîm bəqereḇ ḥăḵāmîm tālîn*", "grammar": { "*ʾōzen*": "noun, feminine singular - ear", "*šōmaʿat*": "qal participle, feminine singular - hearing/listening to", "*tôḵaḥat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - reproof/correction of", "*ḥayyîm*": "noun, masculine plural - life", "*bəqereḇ*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - in midst of", "*ḥăḵāmîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - wise ones", "*tālîn*": "qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - lodges/abides" }, "variants": { "*ʾōzen šōmaʿat*": "ear that hears/listening ear", "*tôḵaḥat ḥayyîm*": "life-giving reproof/correction that leads to life", "*bəqereḇ ḥăḵāmîm*": "in midst of wise/among wise ones", "*tālîn*": "lodges/abides/stays" } } 32 { "verseID": "Proverbs.15.32", "source": "פּוֹרֵ֣עַ מ֭וּסָר מוֹאֵ֣ס נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וְשׁוֹמֵ֥עַ תּ֝וֹכַ֗חַת ק֣וֹנֶה לֵּֽב׃", "text": "*Pôrēaʿ mûsār môʾēs nap̄šô wəšômēaʿ tôḵaḥat qôneh lēḇ*", "grammar": { "*Pôrēaʿ*": "qal participle, masculine singular - ignores/rejects", "*mûsār*": "noun, masculine singular - discipline/instruction", "*môʾēs*": "qal participle, masculine singular - despises/rejects", "*nap̄šô*": "noun, feminine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his soul/himself", "*wəšômēaʿ*": "conjunction + qal participle, masculine singular - but hearer of", "*tôḵaḥat*": "noun, feminine singular - reproof/correction", "*qôneh*": "qal participle, masculine singular - acquires/gains", "*lēḇ*": "noun, masculine singular - heart/understanding" }, "variants": { "*Pôrēaʿ mûsār*": "ignores discipline/rejects instruction", "*môʾēs nap̄šô*": "despises himself/rejects his own soul", "*wəšômēaʿ tôḵaḥat*": "but hearer of reproof/yet one who listens to correction", "*qôneh lēḇ*": "acquires understanding/gains heart/obtains wisdom" } }
• Prov 13:18 : 18 { "verseID": "Proverbs.13.18", "source": "רֵ֣ישׁ וְ֭קָלוֹן פּוֹרֵ֣עַ מוּסָ֑ר וְשׁוֹמֵ֖ר תּוֹכַ֣חַת יְכֻבָּֽד׃", "text": "*rêš wə-qālôn pôrēaʿ mûsār wə-šômēr tôkaḥat yəkubbād*", "grammar": { "*rêš*": "noun, masculine singular - poverty", "*wə-*": "conjunction - and", "*qālôn*": "noun, masculine singular - shame/dishonor", "*pôrēaʿ*": "verb, qal participle, masculine singular - rejecting/ignoring", "*mûsār*": "noun, masculine singular - discipline/instruction", "*wə-*": "conjunction - but", "*šômēr*": "verb, qal participle, masculine singular - keeping/regarding", "*tôkaḥat*": "noun, feminine singular - reproof/rebuke", "*yəkubbād*": "verb, pual imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - is honored" }, "variants": { "*rêš*": "poverty/destitution", "*qālôn*": "shame/dishonor/disgrace", "*pôrēaʿ*": "rejecting/ignoring/abandoning", "*mûsār*": "discipline/instruction/correction", "*šômēr*": "keeping/regarding/heeding", "*tôkaḥat*": "reproof/rebuke/correction", "*yəkubbād*": "is honored/is esteemed/will be honored" } }
• Ps 69:12 : 12 { "verseID": "Psalms.69.12", "source": "וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לְבוּשִׁ֣י שָׂ֑ק וָאֱהִ֖י לָהֶ֣ם לְמָשָֽׁל׃", "text": "And-*'ettĕnâ* *lĕḇûšî* *śāq* and-*'ĕhî* to-them to-*māšāl*", "grammar": { "*'ettĕnâ*": "Qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 1st person singular - and I made/put", "*lĕḇûšî*": "masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix - my clothing", "*śāq*": "masculine singular noun - sackcloth", "*'ĕhî*": "Qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 1st person singular - and I became", "*māšāl*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition lĕ - for a proverb/byword" }, "variants": { "*'ettĕnâ*": "I made/I put/I gave", "*lĕḇûšî*": "my clothing/my garment", "*śāq*": "sackcloth", "*'ĕhî*": "I became/I was", "*māšāl*": "proverb/byword/taunt/mockery" } }
• Prov 9:8 : 8 { "verseID": "Proverbs.9.8", "source": "אַל־תּ֣וֹכַח לֵ֭ץ פֶּן־יִשְׂנָאֶ֑ךָּ הוֹכַ֥ח לְ֝חָכָ֗ם וְיֶאֱהָבֶֽךָּ׃", "text": "*ʾal-tôkaḥ* *lēṣ* *pen-yiśnāʾekā* *hôkaḥ* *lḥākām* *wyeʾĕhābekā*", "grammar": { "*ʾal-tôkaḥ*": "negative particle with Hiphil imperfect 2nd masculine singular - do not reprove", "*lēṣ*": "masculine noun - scoffer/mocker", "*pen-yiśnāʾekā*": "conjunction with Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - lest he hate you", "*hôkaḥ*": "Hiphil imperative masculine singular - reprove", "*lḥākām*": "preposition with masculine adjective - to a wise person", "*wyeʾĕhābekā*": "conjunction with Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - and he will love you" }, "variants": { "*tôkaḥ*": "reprove/rebuke/correct", "*lēṣ*": "scoffer/mocker/scorner", "*yiśnāʾekā*": "he will hate/despise you", "*hôkaḥ*": "reprove/rebuke/correct", "*ḥākām*": "wise person/sage/one skilled in wisdom", "*yeʾĕhābekā*": "he will love/appreciate you" } }
• Prov 13:13 : 13 { "verseID": "Proverbs.13.13", "source": "בָּ֣ז לְ֭דָבָר יֵחָ֣בֶל ל֑וֹ וִירֵ֥א מִ֝צְוָ֗ה ה֣וּא יְשֻׁלָּֽם׃", "text": "*bāz lədābār yēḥābel lô wîrēʾ miṣwâ hûʾ yəšullām*", "grammar": { "*bāz*": "verb, qal participle, masculine singular - despising", "*lədābār*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular - to word/thing", "*yēḥābel*": "verb, niphal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will be held in pledge/destroyed", "*lô*": "preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - to him", "*wîrēʾ*": "conjunction + verb, qal participle, masculine singular - and one fearing", "*miṣwâ*": "noun, feminine singular - commandment", "*hûʾ*": "pronoun, 3rd masculine singular - he", "*yəšullām*": "verb, pual imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - will be rewarded" }, "variants": { "*bāz*": "despising/scorning/holding in contempt", "*dābār*": "word/thing/matter", "*yēḥābel*": "will be held in pledge/will be destroyed/will bring ruin upon himself", "*yîrēʾ*": "one fearing/one revering", "*miṣwâ*": "commandment/precept/decree", "*yəšullām*": "will be rewarded/will receive recompense" } }
• Prov 17:10 : 10 { "verseID": "Proverbs.17.10", "source": "תֵּחַת גְּעָרָה בְמֵבִין מֵהַכּוֹת כְּסִיל מֵאָה", "text": "*tēchat* *gə'ārāh* in *mēbîn* more than *hakkôt* *kəsîl* *mē'āh*", "grammar": { "*tēchat*": "verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular - it descends/enters", "*gə'ārāh*": "noun, feminine singular - rebuke/reproof", "*bə-mēbîn*": "preposition + participle, Hiphil - in one understanding", "*mē-hakkôt*": "preposition comparative + infinitive construct, Hiphil - from striking", "*kəsîl*": "noun, masculine singular - fool", "*mē'āh*": "noun, feminine singular - hundred" }, "variants": { "*tēchat*": "descends/enters/penetrates", "*gə'ārāh*": "rebuke/reproof/correction", "*mēbîn*": "understanding one/discerning person", "*hakkôt*": "striking/hitting/beating", "*kəsîl*": "fool/stupid person", "*mē'āh*": "hundred/a hundred times" } }
• Prov 27:6 : 6 { "verseID": "Proverbs.27.6", "source": "נֶ֭אֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵ֣י אוֹהֵ֑ב וְ֝נַעְתָּר֗וֹת נְשִׁיק֥וֹת שׂוֹנֵֽא׃", "text": "*neʾĕmānîm piṣʿê ʾôhēb wĕnaʿtārôt nĕšîqôt śônēʾ*", "grammar": { "*neʾĕmānîm*": "niphal participle masculine plural - faithful/trustworthy", "*piṣʿê*": "masculine plural construct - wounds of", "*ʾôhēb*": "qal participle masculine singular - one who loves/friend", "*wĕnaʿtārôt*": "conjunction + niphal participle feminine plural - but abundant/deceitful", "*nĕšîqôt*": "feminine plural construct - kisses of", "*śônēʾ*": "qal participle masculine singular - one who hates/enemy" }, "variants": { "*neʾĕmānîm*": "faithful/trustworthy/reliable", "*piṣʿê*": "wounds/bruises/injuries", "*ʾôhēb*": "lover/friend/one who loves", "*naʿtārôt*": "abundant/deceitful/profuse/entreated", "*nĕšîqôt*": "kisses", "*śônēʾ*": "hater/enemy/one who hates" } }
• Rev 3:19 : 19 { "verseID": "Revelation.3.19", "source": "Ἐγὼ Ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ, ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω: ζήλωσον οὖν, καὶ μετανόησον.", "text": "I *Hosous* if *philō*, *elenchō* and *paideuō*: *zēlōson* therefore, and *metanoēson*.", "grammar": { "*Hosous*": "accusative, masculine, plural, relative - as many as", "*philō*": "present active, 1st singular - I love", "*elenchō*": "present active, 1st singular - I rebuke/reprove", "*paideuō*": "present active, 1st singular - I discipline/train", "*zēlōson*": "aorist active imperative, 2nd singular - be zealous", "*metanoēson*": "aorist active imperative, 2nd singular - repent" }, "variants": { "*Hosous*": "as many as/whoever/all whom", "*philō*": "love/have affection for/cherish", "*elenchō*": "rebuke/reprove/expose/convict", "*paideuō*": "discipline/train/educate/correct", "*zēlōson*": "be zealous/earnest/eager", "*metanoēson*": "repent/change your mind/turn around in thinking" } }