Ecclesiastes 7:3

Geneva Bible (1560)

(7:5) Anger is better then laughter: for by a sad looke the heart is made better.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב כַּעַס מִשְּׂחֹק כִּי־בְרֹעַ פָּנִים יִיטַב לֵב

Transliteration

Ṭôḇ kaʿas from-śəḥōq kî-in-rōaʿ pānîm yîṭaḇ lēḇ

Grammar Details

• *Ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/better
• *kaʿas*: noun, masculine singular - vexation/grief/sorrow
• *śəḥōq*: noun, masculine singular - laughter/mirth
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *rōaʿ*: noun, masculine singular - sadness/severity
• *pānîm*: noun, masculine plural - faces/countenance
• *yîṭaḇ*: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - it is made better
• *lēḇ*: noun, masculine singular - heart

Word Meanings

• *Ṭôḇ*: better/more beneficial
• *kaʿas*: grief/sorrow/sadness/vexation
• *śəḥōq*: laughter/mirth/gaiety
• *rōaʿ* *pānîm*: sadness of face/severity of countenance/solemn expression
• *yîṭaḇ* *lēḇ*: heart becomes better/character is improved

Referenced Verses

• 2 Cor 7:9-9 : 9 I nowe reioyce, not that ye were sorie, but that ye sorowed to repentance: for ye sorowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by vs. 10 For godly sorowe causeth repentance vnto saluation, not to be repented of: but the worldly sorowe causeth death. 11 For beholde, this thing that ye haue bene godly sory, what great care it hath wrought in you: yea, what clearing of yourselues: yea, what indignation: yea, what feare: yea, howe great desire: yea, what a zeale: yea, what reuenge: in all things ye haue shewed your selues, that ye are pure in this matter.
• Heb 12:10-11 : 10 For they verely for a few dayes chastened vs after their owne pleasure: but he chasteneth vs for our profite, that we might be partakers of his holinesse. 11 Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but, grieuous: but afterwarde, it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnesse, vnto them which are thereby exercised.
• Rom 5:3-4 : 3 Neither that onely, but also we reioyce in tribulations, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience, 4 And patience experience, and experience hope,
• Jas 4:8-9 : 8 Drawe neere to God, and he will drawe nere to you. Clense your handes, ye sinners, and purge your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Suffer afflictions, and sorrowe ye, and weepe: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your ioy into heauinesse. 10 Cast downe your selues before the Lord, and he will lift you vp.
• 2 Cor 4:17 : 17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall waight of glorie:
• Jas 1:2-4 : 2 My brethren, count it exceeding ioy, when ye fall into diuers tentations, 3 Knowing that ye trying of your faith bringeth forth patience, 4 And let patience haue her perfect worke, that ye may be perfect & entier, lacking nothing.
• Ps 119:67 : 67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but nowe I keepe thy woorde.
• Ps 119:71 : 71 It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted, that I may learne thy statutes.
• Ps 126:5-6 : 5 They that sowe in teares, shall reape in ioy. 6 They went weeping and caried precious seede: but they shall returne with ioye and bring their sheaues.
• Jer 31:8-9 : 8 Beholde, I will bring them from the North countrey, and gather them from the coastes of the world, with the blinde & the lame among them, with the woman with childe, and her that is deliuered also: a great companie shall returne hither. 9 They shall come weeping, and with mercie will I bring them againe: I will lead them by the riuers of water in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first borne.
• Jer 31:15-20 : 15 Thus saith the Lord, A voyce was heard on hie, a mourning and bitter weeping. Rahel weeping for her children, refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16 Thus saith the Lorde, Refraine thy voyce from weeping, and thine eyes from teares: for thy worke shalbe rewarded, saith the Lord, and they shall come againe from the land of the enemie: 17 And there is hope in thine ende, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come againe to their owne borders. 18 I haue heard Ephraim lamenting thus, Thou hast corrected me, and I was chastised as an vntamed calfe: conuert thou me, and I shalbe conuerted: for thou art the Lord my God. 19 Surely after that I conuerted, I repented: and after that I was instructed, I smote vpon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, euen confounded, because I did beare the reproch of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my deare sonne or pleasant childe? yet since I spake vnto him, I still remembred him: therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I wil surely haue compassion vpon him, saith the Lorde.
• Jer 50:4-5 : 4 In those daies, and at that time, sayeth the Lorde, the children of Israel shal come, they, and the children of Iudah together, going, and weeping shal they goe, and seeke the Lord their God. 5 They shal aske the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let vs cleaue to the Lorde in a perpetuall couenant that shall not be forgotten.
• Dan 9:3-9 : 3 And I turned my face vnto the Lord God, and sought by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 And I prayed vnto the Lord my God, and made my confession, saying, Oh Lord God, which art great and fearefull, & keepest couenant and mercy toward them which loue thee, and toward them that keepe thy commandements, 5 We haue sinned, and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly, yea, we haue rebelled, and haue departed from thy precepts, and from thy iudgements. 6 For we would not obey thy seruants the Prophets, which spake in thy Name to our Kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousnes belongeth vnto thee, and vnto vs open shame, as appeareth this day vnto euery man of Iudah, and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem: yea, vnto all Israel, both neere and farre off, through all the countreys, whither thou hast driuen them, because of their offences, that they haue committed against thee. 8 O Lord, vnto vs apperteineth open shame, to our Kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we haue sinned against thee. 9 Yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in the Lorde our God, albeit we haue rebelled against him. 10 For we haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God, to walke in his lawes, which he had laide before vs by the ministerie of his seruants the Prophets. 11 Yea, all Israel haue transgressed thy Lawe, and are turned backe, and haue not heard thy voyce: therefore the curse is powred vpon vs, and the othe that is written in the Lawe of Moses the seruant of God, because we haue sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his wordes, which he spake against vs, and against our iudges that iudged vs, by bringing vpon vs a great plague: for vnder the whole heauen hath not bene the like, as hath bene brought vpon Ierusalem. 13 All this plague is come vpon vs, as it is written in the Lawe of Moses: yet made we not our prayer before the Lorde our God, that we might turne from our iniquities and vnderstand thy trueth. 14 Therefore hath the Lord made ready the plague, and brought it vpon vs: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we would not heare his voyce. 15 And nowe, O Lorde our God, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mightie hand, and hast gotten thee renoume, as appeareth this day, we haue sinned, we haue done wickedly. 16 O Lorde, according to all thy righteousnes, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy citie Ierusalem thine holy Mountaine: for because of our sinnes, & for the iniquities of our fathers, Ierusalem and thy people are a reproche to all that are about vs. 17 Nowe therefore, O our God, heare the prayer of thy serunant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine vpon thy Sanctuarie, that lyeth waste for the Lords sake. 18 O my God, encline thine eare and heare: open thine eyes, and beholde our desolations, and the citie whereupon thy Name is called: for we doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnes, but for thy great tender mercies. 19 O Lorde, heare, O Lorde forgiue, O Lorde consider, and doe it: deferre not, for thine owne sake, O my God: for thy Name is called vpon thy citie, and vpon thy people.
• Dan 10:2-3 : 2 At the same time I Daniel was in heauines for three weekes of dayes. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint my selfe at all, till three weekes of dayes were fulfilled.
• Dan 10:19 : 19 And said, O man, greatly beloued, feare not: peace be vnto thee: be strong and of good courage; when he had spoken vnto me, I was strengthened, and saide, Let my Lord speake: for thou hast strengthened me.
• Zech 12:10-14 : 10 And I will powre vpon the house of Dauid, and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem the Spirite of grace and of compassion, and they shall looke vpon me, whom they haue pearced, and they shall lament for him, as one mourneth for his onely sonne, and be sorie for him as one is sorie for his first borne. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Ierusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall bewayle euery familie apart, the familie of the house of Dauid apart, and their wiues apart: the familie of the house of Nathan apart, and their wiues apart: 13 The familie of the house of Leui apart, and their wiues apart: the familie of Shemei apart, and their wiues apart: 14 All the families that remaine, euery familie apart, and their wiues apart.
• Luke 6:21 : 21 Blessed are ye that hunger nowe: for ye shalbe satisfied: blessed are ye that weepe now: for ye shall laugh.
• Luke 6:25 : 25 Wo be to you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Wo be to you that now laugh: for ye shal wayle and weepe.
• John 16:20-22 : 20 Verely, verely I say vnto you, that ye shall weepe and lament, and the worlde shall reioyce: and ye shall sorowe, but your sorowe shalbe turned to ioye. 21 A woman when she traueileth, hath sorowe, because her houre is come: but assoone as she is deliuered of the childe, she remembreth no more the anguish, for ioy that a man is borne into the world. 22 And ye nowe therefore are in sorowe: but I will see you againe, & your hearts shal reioyce, and your ioy shall no man take from you.