Ecclesiastes 7:4 kjv
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 nkjv
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 niv
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 esv
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 nlt
A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 7:2-3 | "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting... Sorrow is better than laughter..." | Immediate context; highlights the value of sorrow. |
| Prov 14:13 | "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief." | Folly of fleeting pleasure; underlying sorrow. |
| Ps 90:12 | "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." | Facing mortality leads to wisdom. |
| Lk 6:25 | "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." | Warning against shallow joy, future sorrow for fools. |
| Jas 4:9 | "Lament and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom." | Call to spiritual seriousness, repentant sorrow. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation..." | Benefits of sorrow, particularly godly sorrow. |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Foundation of wisdom vs. folly. |
| Ps 14:1 | "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" | Root of foolishness; rejection of truth. |
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." | Importance of where the heart's focus lies. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | "claiming to be wise, they became fools... their foolish hearts were darkened." | Folly of rejecting God's truth, darkened heart. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time..." | Wise living includes valuing time/mortality. |
| Heb 9:27 | "it is appointed for man once to die, and after that comes judgment..." | Universal reality of death and accountability. |
| 1 Cor 15:32 | "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'" | Epicurean folly condemned; absence of eternal hope. |
| Lk 12:19-20 | "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years... 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you...'" | Parable of the rich fool; unprepared for death. |
| Phil 3:18-19 | "...enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Those focused on worldly pleasures; ultimate destruction. |
| 1 Jn 2:15-17 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world... the world is passing away..." | Contrast of temporal worldly desires vs. eternal. |
| Ecc 2:1-2 | "I said in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.' But behold, this also was vanity." | Solomon's experience with the vanity of pleasure. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick..." | The nature of the human heart, need for guidance. |
| Prov 28:26 | "Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." | Folly of self-reliance vs. wisdom. |
| Prov 10:23 | "Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding." | Delight in wickedness (folly) vs. delight in wisdom. |
| Col 3:1-2 | "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above... Set your minds on things that are above..." | Wise heart focuses on eternal, spiritual realities. |
| Matt 25:1-13 | Parable of the Ten Virgins: wise were prepared, foolish were not. | Wisdom leads to preparation; folly leads to neglect. |
Ecclesiastes 7 verses
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Meaning
The heart of the wise individual is inclined towards places of reflection on serious matters, such as death and human finitude, exemplified by a "house of mourning." This preference allows for a deeper understanding of life's brevity and vanity, fostering wisdom and sober perspective. In contrast, the heart of the foolish person is drawn to places of temporary pleasure and revelry, symbolized by a "house of mirth." This focus on fleeting enjoyment distracts them from essential truths, preventing serious contemplation and perpetuating a superficial existence.
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Context
Ecclesiastes 7:4 is part of a broader section (Ecc 7:1-12) where Koheleth, the Preacher, challenges conventional wisdom by contrasting apparent good with better realities. The preceding verses (Ecc 7:2-3) directly state that "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting... for by sadness of face the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." This sets the stage, asserting that serious reflection, even sadness, yields greater benefit than frivolous joy. The chapter's immediate context encourages choosing wisdom, sober-mindedness, and discerning counsel over superficiality, highlighting the value of a realistic view of life under the sun. Culturally, funeral rites in ancient Israel were indeed somber affairs, prompting community and individual introspection, contrasting sharply with the celebratory banquets which could often devolve into excessive merriment. Koheleth subtly offers a polemic against a purely hedonistic worldview by elevating the profound benefits of confronting difficult realities over seeking constant escape.
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Word analysis
- The heart (לֵב - lev): In Hebrew thought, "heart" signifies the entirety of a person's inner being—their mind, will, intellect, emotions, and moral character. It is the seat of decision-making, understanding, and deepest inclination. Therefore, where one's "heart" is, truly reflects their core priorities and wisdom.
- of the wise (חָכָם - chakham): Refers to those possessing biblical wisdom, which is not merely intellectual knowledge but a practical skill for living righteously and understanding God's ways in the world. A chakham individual orders their life according to divine principles, observing consequences and applying discernment.
- is in the house of mourning (בֵּית-אֵבֶל - beit-evel): A literal place where grief is expressed, typically after a death. Metaphorically, it represents an environment or mindset that prompts reflection on life's brevity, sorrow, and ultimate end. It forces one to confront reality, acknowledge human frailty, and consider eternal perspectives. It implies a seriousness about life that yields valuable insights.
- but the heart (לֵב - lev): Again, emphasizes the inner core, intellect, and will.
- of fools (כְּסִילִים - kesilim): This term denotes not merely a lack of intelligence but a moral and spiritual deficiency. A kesil is stubbornly resistant to instruction, despises wisdom, and is characterized by spiritual dullness, self-deception, and an unwillingness to face difficult truths or acknowledge God's existence/sovereignty.
- is in the house of mirth (בֵּית-מִשְׁתֶּה - beit-mishteh): A place of feasting, banquets, and revelry. Metaphorically, it represents environments or mindsets that prioritize immediate pleasure, fleeting amusement, and the avoidance of serious thought. It signifies a life of distraction and superficiality, characterized by the pursuit of temporal delights without considering their deeper implications or ultimate futility.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The heart of the wise...is in the house of mourning": This phrase highlights that the wise actively choose, by their core being and inner disposition, to gravitate towards realities that foster sober thought and deep understanding. They do not shrink from sorrow or mortality but recognize them as profound teachers that reveal the true nature of existence and the ultimate meaning of life, which often points beyond the "under the sun" observations of Koheleth to a Creator.
- "The heart of fools...is in the house of mirth": This juxtaposed phrase reveals that fools, by their very nature, are drawn to environments that perpetuate their self-deception and distract them from challenging truths. Their inner inclinations lead them to superficial joys and fleeting pleasures, thus preventing them from acquiring genuine wisdom and understanding the vanity of a life lived without higher purpose.
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Bonus section
This verse stands as a powerful testament to the biblical principle that genuine wisdom is often forged in the crucible of difficult experiences and a clear-eyed view of life's limitations, particularly the inevitability of death. It implies that true understanding cannot be achieved through constant self-gratification or the avoidance of pain, but rather through confronting the profound realities of human existence. This perspective echoes throughout Scripture, urging believers to be sober-minded and vigilant, acknowledging the brevity of life as a motivator for spiritual discernment and seeking eternal truths.
Ecclesiastes 7 4 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 7:4 succinctly captures a fundamental contrast between two life orientations: that of wisdom and that of folly. The wise heart seeks truth, even when it is sobering, because truth leads to a better understanding of self, life, and eternity. It values the gravitas of a mourning house—a place where life's inevitable end and transient nature are confronted—as a superior classroom for learning practical wisdom and aligning one's priorities with what truly matters. Such reflection leads to sober living and right action (as alluded to in Ecc 7:2-3). In contrast, the fool, averse to introspection and preferring self-indulgence, seeks the fleeting joy and distractions of mirth. Their chosen path of superficial pleasure ultimately blinds them to reality, hinders true spiritual growth, and often leads to destructive outcomes, embodying a disregard for enduring truths and the lessons of human finitude. The verse is not an advocation against joy, but against joy sought as an escape from reality.