Ecclesiastes 7:17 kjv
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 nkjv
Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 niv
Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool? why die before your time?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 esv
Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
Ecclesiastes 7:17 nlt
On the other hand, don't be too wicked either. Don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
Ecclesiastes 7 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 10:27 | The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. | Wickedness shortens life. |
| Prov 9:11 | For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. | Wisdom brings extended life. |
| Prov 1:32 | For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them. | Folly leads to destruction. |
| Prov 10:21 | The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. | Fools perish from lack of wisdom. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Seemingly right paths can lead to ruin. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Sin's ultimate consequence is death. |
| Jas 1:15 | Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. | Sin's development leads to death. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows... from the flesh will reap corruption... | Consequences follow actions. |
| Deut 30:19-20 | ...choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice... | Choosing God leads to life. |
| Ps 37:10 | In just a little while, the wicked will be no more... | Wicked perish quickly. |
| Ps 37:20 | But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the meadows; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. | Wickedness leads to ruin. |
| Job 14:5 | Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with You, and You have appointed his limits that he cannot pass. | God determines life span. |
| Ps 90:10 | The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; soon it is gone, and we fly away. | Life has a limit. |
| Heb 9:27 | And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Appointed time of death. |
| Prov 28:26 | Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. | Self-trust is folly. |
| Prov 21:20 | Precious treasure and oil are in a wise dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. | Fools squander blessings. |
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." | Defining characteristic of a fool. |
| Eccl 7:18 | It is good that you grasp the one, and also from the other withdraw not your hand; for whoever fears God shall come forth from them all. | Direct follow-up, fearing God is key. |
| Prov 3:2 | For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. | Wisdom adds to life. |
| Prov 4:10 | Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | Heeding wisdom promises long life. |
| Matt 10:16 | Be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. | Balancing wisdom and innocence. |
| Prov 14:8 | The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit. | Prudence vs. folly. |
Ecclesiastes 7 verses
Ecclesiastes 7 17 Meaning
This verse delivers a practical warning against extreme wickedness and the path of utter foolishness. It cautions that indulging in excessive evil or persistently living as a defiant fool can lead to premature ruin or a shortened lifespan. While acknowledging life's complexities, the Preacher (Koheleth) emphasizes that certain behaviors have inherent negative consequences, even in a world where divine justice is not always immediately apparent.
Ecclesiastes 7 17 Context
Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 is part of the Preacher's reflections on the complexities and apparent paradoxes of life "under the sun." After considering various aspects of wisdom, suffering, and the nature of humanity, Koheleth delves into the challenging idea that simplistic retribution (good rewarded, bad punished) is often not visible in this world. Verse 17 directly follows verse 16, which cautions against being "overly righteous" or "overly wise," possibly referring to legalism, self-righteousness, or an attempt to appear morally superior to the point of fanaticism. Together, verses 16 and 17 create a balanced warning against two extremes: moral extremism (either self-righteous pride or utter wickedness) and the related folly of trying to outmaneuver or fully comprehend God's justice. The historical context reflects a wisdom tradition that generally linked long life and prosperity with righteousness, while Koheleth introduces nuanced observations, recognizing deviations but still affirming underlying principles of cause and effect.
Word Analysis
- Do not (אַל־): A direct, strong prohibition, common in wisdom literature.
- be overly (הַרְבֵּה): Signifies "much," "greatly," or "exceedingly." This critical qualifier means the warning is not against all sin, but against a habitual, excessive, or extreme lifestyle of wickedness. It points to a deep-seated commitment to evil rather than occasional moral failures.
- wicked (תִּרְשַׁע - tirsha’ from רָשַׁע - rasha’): Refers to moral evil, wrongdoing, guilt, and actively doing what is displeasing to God and harmful to others. It denotes actions that transgress divine law and disrupt social order.
- neither be (וְאַל־תְּהִי - v'al-t'hi): Connects the second prohibition, establishing a parallel warning.
- a fool (כְּסִיל - k’sil): In Hebrew wisdom literature, a k’sil is not merely unintelligent, but morally stubborn, resistant to correction, closed to wisdom, and often arrogant or perverse in their worldview. This "fool" dismisses divine truth and the consequences of their actions. This contrasts with a peti (naive, simple-minded) or nabal (morally senseless, crude).
- Why (לָמָּה - lammah): A rhetorical question, posing the consequence as obvious and avoidable, thereby urging a change in behavior.
- should you die (תָּמוּת - tamut from מוּת - mut): Refers primarily to literal physical death, but within Koheleth's framework, it can also encompass profound ruin, disgrace, or the spiritual demise of a life without true meaning or purpose. In the ancient world, a long life was a blessing associated with righteousness, while a short life could indicate divine judgment for wickedness.
- before your time (בְּלֹא עִתֶּךָ - b’lo itteka): Literally "not at your time" or "without your appointed time." This implies a natural or divinely ordained lifespan that can be shortened or brought to an abrupt, undesirable end due to the individual's self-destructive actions.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Do not be overly wicked": This phrase warns against adopting a lifestyle characterized by pervasive and flagrant sin. It suggests a qualitative measure—a deliberate, profound commitment to evil that brings severe consequences.
- "neither be a fool": This emphasizes the companion warning against adopting a mindset that inherently rejects wisdom and moral guidance. Such a "fool" actively chooses ignorance and self-serving ways, leading them down a destructive path.
- "Why should you die before your time?": This serves as the consequential query, directly linking extreme wickedness and persistent folly to a shortened life, or premature end to one's well-being and influence. It suggests an avoidable, self-inflicted demise.
Ecclesiastes 7 17 Bonus section
The Preacher, Koheleth, does not offer a simplistic 'name-it-and-claim-it' theology of blessing or retribution, often challenging the direct correlation seen in some Proverbs (e.g., Eccl 7:15). Yet, in Ecclesiastes 7:17, he reinforces a fundamental principle of biblical wisdom: that moral choices have consequences. While one's ultimate appointed time for death is set by God, engaging in gross wickedness and chronic foolishness is seen as a way to hasten one's physical demise or, more broadly, to bring about a premature end to one's effective life, reputation, and societal standing. This perspective is a call to sober self-assessment, reminding individuals that life, though fleeting and complex, offers opportunities for wise stewardship, and squandering those through deliberate sin leads to an unnecessary early collapse.
Ecclesiastes 7 17 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 7:17, when read alongside 7:16, reveals the Preacher's advocacy for balance and humility in life "under the sun." It is not an endorsement of mediocrity, but a warning against extremes rooted in human pride or defiance. Being "overly wicked" speaks to blatant and habitual rebellion against God's ways, a trajectory that naturally leads to destruction—be it physical demise, social ostracization, or a life void of true purpose. Being a "fool" describes someone not just unintelligent, but morally obtuse and resistant to wisdom's instruction, making choices that inevitably undermine their own well-being and prospects. The rhetorical question "Why should you die before your time?" highlights the self-inflicted nature of such an end. It affirms that while God is sovereign, human choices, particularly those of extreme wickedness and unrepentant folly, have tangible, negative repercussions that can shorten one's span of effective living. This verse therefore encourages discerning, practical wisdom grounded in the fear of God (as elaborated in verse 18), steering clear of both spiritual arrogance and outright moral dissolution.