Ecclesiastes 7:9
Ecclesiastes 7:9 in Multiple Translations
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish.
Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.
Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
Do not quickly ◄lose your temper/react to things angrily►, because it is foolish people [SYN] who become very angry.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 7:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַל
תְּבַהֵ֥ל
בְּ/רֽוּחֲ/ךָ֖
לִ/כְע֑וֹס
כִּ֣י
כַ֔עַס
בְּ/חֵ֥יק
כְּסִילִ֖ים
יָנֽוּחַ
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תְּבַהֵ֥ל
bâhal
H926
to dismay
V-Piel-Juss-2ms
בְּ/רֽוּחֲ/ךָ֖
rûwach
H7307
spirit
Prep | N-cs | Suff
לִ/כְע֑וֹס
kaʻaç
H3707
to provoke
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
כַ֔עַס
kaʻaç
H3708
vexation
N-ms
בְּ/חֵ֥יק
chêyq
H2436
bosom
Prep | N-ms
כְּסִילִ֖ים
kᵉçîyl
H3684
fool
Adj
יָנֽוּחַ
nûwach
H5117
to rest
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 7:9
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תְּבַהֵ֥ל
bâhal
H926
"to dismay"
V-Piel-Juss-2ms
This verb means to be alarmed or agitated, often suddenly. It's used in the Bible to describe people's reactions to frightening events, like battles or natural disasters. It can also mean to hurry or act hastily.
Definition: 1) to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, anxious 1a2) to be in haste, be hasty 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make haste, act hastily, be hurried, be hastened 1b2) to dismay, terrify 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to hasten 1c2) hastened, hastily gained (part.) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to hasten, hurry, make haste 1d2) to dismay, terrify
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex. See also: Genesis 45:3; Psalms 6:4; Psalms 2:5.
בְּ/רֽוּחֲ/ךָ֖
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
Prep | N-cs | Suff
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
לִ/כְע֑וֹס
kaʻaç
H3707
"to provoke"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This verb means to provoke or make someone angry, like in Psalm 106 where it describes the Israelites' actions that angered God. It can also mean to grieve or be indignant. It's a strong emotion.
Definition: 1) to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be vexed, be indignant 1a2) to be angry 1b) (Piel) to provoke to anger 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to vex 1c2) to vex, provoke to anger
Usage: Occurs in 53 OT verses. KJV: be angry, be grieved, take indignation, provoke (to anger, unto wrath), have sorrow, vex, be wroth. See also: Deuteronomy 4:25; 2 Chronicles 28:25; Psalms 78:58.
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
כַ֔עַס
kaʻaç
H3708
"vexation"
N-ms
This noun refers to the feeling of anger or frustration, like in Deuteronomy 32 where it describes God's vexation with the Israelites. It can also mean grief or provocation. It's a strong negative emotion.
Definition: anger, vexation Also means: ka.as (כַּ֫עַשׂ "vexation" H3708B)
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: anger, angry, grief, indignation, provocation, provoking, [idiom] sore, sorrow, spite, wrath. See also: Deuteronomy 32:19; Psalms 10:14; Psalms 6:8.
בְּ/חֵ֥יק
chêyq
H2436
"bosom"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for bosom refers to the chest area, often used figuratively to describe a close or intimate relationship, as seen in the KJV translations of bosom, lap, or midst.
Definition: : embrace/chest bosom, hollow, bottom, midst
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: bosom, bottom, lap, midst, within. See also: Genesis 16:5; Psalms 79:12; Psalms 35:13.
כְּסִילִ֖ים
kᵉçîyl
H3684
"fool"
Adj
This Hebrew word describes a fool or someone who is stupid and silly. It is often used to describe people who reject God's wisdom. The Bible uses this word to warn against foolish behavior.
Definition: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: fool(-ish). See also: Psalms 49:11; Proverbs 19:13; Psalms 92:7.
יָנֽוּחַ
nûwach
H5117
"to rest"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To rest means to settle down and remain in one place, and can be used literally or figuratively. This verb appears in many parts of the Bible, including Exodus 20:11 and Matthew 11:28.
Definition: 1) to rest 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rest, settle down and remain 1a2) to repose, have rest, be quiet 1b) (Hiph) 1b1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet 1b2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down 1b3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place 1b4) to let remain, leave 1b5) to leave, depart from 1b6) to abandon 1b7) to permit 1c) (Hoph) 1c1) to obtain rest, be granted rest 1c2) to be left, be placed 1c3) open space (subst) Also means: ya.nach (יָנַח "to rest" H3240)
Usage: Occurs in 67 OT verses. KJV: cease, be confederate, lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give, have, make to) rest, set down. Compare H3241 (יָנִים). See also: Genesis 8:4; Nehemiah 9:28; Psalms 125:3.
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 7:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Context — The Value of Wisdom
7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this. 11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James 1:19 | My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:17 | A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated. |
| 3 | Ephesians 4:26–27 | “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold. |
| 4 | Proverbs 16:32 | He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. |
| 5 | Proverbs 26:23–26 | Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. |
| 6 | Esther 3:5–6 | When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes. |
| 7 | Genesis 34:7–8 | When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done. But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 25:21–22 | Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good. May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.” |
| 9 | 2 Samuel 13:22 | And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar. |
| 10 | 2 Samuel 19:43 | “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel. |
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Summary
[This verse reminds us to be careful not to let anger control our reactions, because when we do, we can act foolishly. It's like when we're driving and someone cuts us off - we might feel angry, but taking a deep breath and staying calm is the wise thing to do, just like it says in Proverbs 14:29 that a patient person has great understanding. By choosing not to be quickly provoked, we can avoid saying or doing things we might regret, and instead respond in a way that honors God, as encouraged in Colossians 3:8.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be quickly provoked in your spirit?
To be quickly provoked means to let anger or frustration control your reactions, which can lead to foolish decisions and actions, as seen in Ecclesiastes 7:9, and is warned against in Proverbs 14:29 where it says a patient person has great understanding.
Why is anger compared to settling in the lap of a fool?
The comparison in Ecclesiastes 7:9 suggests that anger is closely associated with foolish behavior, implying that when we give in to anger, we are acting unwisely, similar to the foolishness described in Proverbs 29:11.
How can I avoid being quickly provoked in my spirit?
Avoiding quick provocation involves cultivating patience and self-control, as advised in Galatians 5:22-23, where patience is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, and in Proverbs 15:1, which reminds us that a gentle answer turns away wrath.
What are the consequences of letting anger settle in our hearts?
Letting anger settle can lead to a pattern of foolish and destructive behavior, as hinted in Ecclesiastes 7:9, and explicitly warned against in Ephesians 4:26-27, where we are told not to let the sun go down on our anger, giving the devil a foothold.
Reflection Questions
- In what situations do I find myself becoming quickly provoked, and how can I apply the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 7:9 in those moments?
- How does my reaction to provocation reflect my trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, as described in Romans 8:28?
- What role does pride play in my tendency to become angry, and how can I humble myself, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:6-7, to avoid foolish reactions?
- In what ways can I practice patience and self-control in my daily interactions, reflecting the character of Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry,.... With men, for every word that is said, or action done, that is not agreeable; encourage not, but repress, sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not angry with any man without due consideration, and just and necessary cause; for otherwise anger is sometimes lawful, and sometimes a duty. Resteth; hath its settled and quiet abode, is their constant companion, ever at hand upon all occasions, whereas wise men resist, and mortify, and banish it. In the bosom; in the heart, the proper seat of the passions.
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.Ver. 9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry.] The hasty man, we say, never wants woe. For wrath is an evil counsellor, and enwrappeth a man in manifold troubles, mischiefs, and miseries. It makes man like the bee, that vindictive creature, which, to be revenged, loseth her sting, and becomes a drone; or, like Tamar, who, to be even with her father-in-law, defiled him and herself with incest. "Cease, therefore, from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in anywise to do evil." Athenodorus counselled Augustus to determine nothing rashly, when he was angry, till he had repeated the Greek alphabet. Ambrose taught Theodosius, in that case, to repeat the Lord’ s Prayer. What a shame it is to see a Christian act like Hercules furens, or like Solomon’ s fool, that casts firebrands, or as that demoniac, out of measure fierce! That demoniac was "among the tombs," but these are among the living, and molest those most that are nearest to them. For anger resteth in the bosom of fools.] Rush it may into a wise man’ s bosom, but not rest there, lodge there, dwell there; and only where it dwells it domineers, and that is only where a fool is master of the family. Thunder, hail, tempest, neither trouble nor hurt celestial bodies.
See that the sun go not down upon this evil guest: see that the soul be not soured or impured with it, for anger corrupts the heart, as leaven doth the lump, or vinegar the vessel wherein it doth continue. Aug., epist. 87.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
(9) Resteth.—Proverbs 14:33.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
Verse 9. Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.] A wise man, off his guard, may feel it for a moment: but in him it cannot rest: it is a fire which he immediately casts out of his breast. But the fool - the man who is under the dominion of his own tempers, harbours and fosters it, till it takes the form of malice, and then excites him to seek full revenge on those whom he deems enemies. Hence that class of dangerous and empty fools called duellists.
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 7:9
9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry] From sins of speech in general, the teacher passes on to that which is the source from which they most often flow. Anger, alike from the Stoic and Epicurean stand-point (and the writer, as we have seen, had points of contact with each of them), was the note of unwisdom. If it be right at all, it is when it is calm and deliberate, an indignation against moral evil. The hasty anger of wounded self-love is, as in the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:22), destructive of the tranquillity of true wisdom, and, transient and impulsive as it seems at first, may harden “in the bosom of the fool” into a settled antipathy or malignant scorn.
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:9
9. Be not hasty… angry — This exhortation comes as an inference from the foregoing remarks.
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 7:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Watch Your Inner Life by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of the inner life before God, highlighting how God looks at the heart while man looks at the outward appearance. It contrasts the Old Testamen |
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Freedom From Anger and Sexual Lust by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom and holiness in our lives by addressing the struggles with hidden sins like anger and sexual temptation. It highlights the n |
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Why Are You Angry? by Israel Wayne | This sermon by Israel Wayne focuses on the topic of anger, exploring the biblical perspective on anger, its roots, and the importance of self-control. Wayne delves into the dangers |
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The Taming of Anger by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the significance of thoughts in the manifestation of anger, asserting that all sins, including anger, begin in the heart and mind. He explains that quick-temp |
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From the Death of Antigonus to the Finishing of the Temple by Herod by Flavius Josephus | Flavius Josephus recounts the events from the death of Antigonus to the completion of the temple by Herod. Herod seizes Jerusalem, captures Antigonus, and punishes his enemies whil |
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Tempers, and What to Do With Them by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer addresses the destructive impact of bad tempers on families and relationships, illustrating how irritability can overshadow moments meant for joy and peace. He emphasize |
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The Advantage of Keeping One's Temper by J.R. Miller | J.R. Miller emphasizes the sinful nature of bad temper, arguing that it is an infirmity that should not be excused or tolerated. He highlights the practical advantages of maintaini |