Ecclesiastes 7:16 kjv
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
Ecclesiastes 7:16 nkjv
Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16 niv
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise? why destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16 esv
Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16 nlt
So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 64:6 | All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags... | Self-righteousness is defiled before God. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. | Condemns self-righteousness and self-boasting. |
| Rom 10:2-3 | ...being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted... | Warning against seeking own righteousness. |
| Php 3:9 | ...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ... | Righteousness is through faith, not works. |
| Gal 3:1-3 | ...received the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? | Questioning return to legalism after grace. |
| Prov 26:12 | Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. | Warning against intellectual pride. |
| Prov 3:7 | Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. | Call to humility in wisdom before God. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | ...let not the wise man glory in his wisdom... but let him glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. | God is the source of true glory and wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:19-20 | ...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise... Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | God opposes human wisdom that opposes Him. |
| 1 Cor 3:18-20 | ...if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise... | Worldly wisdom is foolishness to God. |
| Jas 3:13-16 | ...this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. | Description of ungodly, self-centered wisdom. |
| Rom 12:3 | ...not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly... | Exhortation to humility and moderation. |
| Prov 4:27 | Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. | Call for spiritual balance and straight path. |
| Matt 7:26-27 | ...everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. | Self-deception leads to ruin. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Pride (of righteousness or wisdom) leads to downfall. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... | Lack of true knowledge (of God) leads to destruction. |
| Mic 6:8 | ...what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? | True righteousness rooted in humility and relationship with God. |
| Psa 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments... | True wisdom begins with fear of God. |
| Eccl 7:18 | It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. | Direct immediate context advocating for balance and fear of God. |
| Eccl 12:13 | Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments... | Summarizes Qohelet's ultimate counsel for life. |
Ecclesiastes 7 verses
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 7:16 warns against two extremes: being excessively righteous and being overly wise. It questions the utility of such excesses, implying that they lead to self-destruction or ruin. The verse does not discourage genuine righteousness or true wisdom, which are praised elsewhere in Scripture, but rather targets a distorted, human-centered pursuit of these virtues that becomes a form of spiritual pride, legalism, or intellectual arrogance. This can result in alienation from God's grace, isolation from others, and a state of desolation or inner turmoil rather than peace.
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 7 explores various contrasts central to a meaningful life "under the sun," balancing wisdom with folly, prosperity with adversity. Verses 15-18 specifically address the perceived anomalies of life, such as righteous individuals suffering and the wicked prospering. Against this backdrop of apparent injustice and the Teacher's observation of life's unpredictable nature, verse 16 acts as a caution against seeking control or assurance through excessive human striving. It stands as a warning within a larger discussion about living wisely in a fallen world, emphasizing that spiritual extremes, even in the pursuit of good things like righteousness and wisdom, can be detrimental if not balanced with humility and a proper understanding of God's sovereignty and human limitations. Historically, it may have countered a legalistic tendency or a purely humanistic intellectualism prevalent in the ancient world, advocating for a God-fearing approach to life.
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Word analysis
- Be not: This phrase uses a negative imperative, "אל־תְּהִ֤י" (al-tehi), functioning as a direct prohibition. It's not a general command against being righteous or wise, but against a specific kind of excess in these qualities, implying a limit to human striving.
- overly righteous: The Hebrew is "צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה" (tzaddiq harbeh), literally "righteous much" or "very righteous."
- `צַדִּיק` (tzaddiq): Refers to one who is just, innocent, or pious. In this context, the excess suggests a self-righteousness or legalism that aims to impress God or others through scrupulous observance beyond what is commanded, or by focusing on outward appearances rather than inward piety. This kind of righteousness often neglects grace and can lead to hypocrisy or judgment of others.
- `הַרְבֵּה` (harbeh): Means "much," "greatly," or "excessively." Its use here emphasizes the degree, indicating that the problem isn't righteousness itself, but its unbridled or distorted pursuit.
- neither make yourself over-wise: The Hebrew is "וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֥ם יוֹתֵ֖ר" (v'al-tithakham yoter).
- `תִּתְחַכַּ֥ם` (tithakham): A reflexive verbal form (Hitpael) of `חָכַם` (chakham), meaning "to be wise." The reflexive sense here is crucial: "to make oneself wise," "to pretend to be wise," or "to act like one is wise." It indicates self-assertion or presumption in wisdom.
- `יוֹתֵ֖ר` (yoter): Means "more," "exceedingly," or "over and above." Similar to `harbeh`, it intensifies the preceding verb, signifying an extreme or self-aggrandizing form of wisdom. This refers to an intellectual arrogance that relies solely on human reason, claiming to understand ultimate truths apart from divine revelation, or using knowledge to foster pride or contempt for others. It can manifest as excessive speculation, cynicism, or intellectualism disconnected from practical life and humility.
- why should you destroy yourself?: The Hebrew is "לָ֥מָּה תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם" (lamah tishomem).
- `לָ֥מָּה` (lamah): A rhetorical interrogative meaning "why?" or "for what purpose?" It implies that the outcome is nonsensical and self-defeating.
- `תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם` (tishomem): Another reflexive/passive verb form (Hitpolel) of `שָׁמֵם` (shamem), which means "to be desolate," "to be appalled," "to be ruined," or "to lay waste." The question suggests that excessive righteousness or wisdom, instead of leading to flourishing, will result in self-inflicted spiritual, emotional, or social devastation. It refers to inner emptiness, alienation, despair, or even the withdrawal of God's blessing.
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Bonus section
The passage of Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 provides a critical balance for living "under the sun." While verse 16 warns against extremes, verse 18 immediately offers the solution: "It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all." This teaches moderation and holding a balance between different virtues and realities of life. True wisdom involves not going to extremes, but humbly accepting both the righteous and wicked, the good and bad in life, and understanding God's ultimate control. The "fear of God" is the governing principle that prevents one from straying into harmful excesses of either righteousness or intellectualism, promoting spiritual soundness and avoiding the "desolation" of soul. The Hebrew verb "shamem" for "destroy yourself" can also imply being "desolated" or "astonished" to the point of dismay, indicating an internal barrenness or bewilderment as a consequence. This implies that such a path doesn't merely harm others but internally devastates the individual.
Ecclesiastes 7 16 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 7:16 is a nuanced warning against fanaticism in otherwise good pursuits. It teaches that pushing righteousness or wisdom to an extreme, divorced from genuine humility and reliance on God, leads not to greater fulfillment but to ruin. This "overly righteous" person might fall into legalism, self-deception, or judging others, missing the essence of divine grace and relationship. The "over-wise" individual might become intellectually arrogant, cynical, or lost in philosophical abstractions, failing to live practically or trust in God's providence. The rhetorical "why should you destroy yourself?" highlights the inherent self-defeating nature of such human-centric extremism. True righteousness and wisdom, as Qohelet concludes (Eccl 12:13), are found in fearing God and keeping His commandments, leading to life, not desolation.For example, a person rigidly following self-imposed spiritual rules to earn favor, rather than out of love, might become despairing when they inevitably fail. Similarly, someone consumed by their own intellectual superiority may become isolated or critical, losing the joy of simple faith and communion with others.