Ecclesiastes 5:1

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The Preacher (Qohelet) addresses a general reader or hearer at the threshold of entering the house of God, before the act of worship begins.

The words — שׁמור (sh.mor, "guard") is the verb used elsewhere for keeping watch over a city or a secret; it implies sustained vigilance, not a single act of caution. רגל (ragel, "foot") in Hebrew idiom often means "step" or "manner of proceeding," so the command is to regulate one's entire approach, not merely one's gait.

The thread — Ecclesiastes 5:2 tightens the same point: be slow to speak before God. James 1:19 restates the principle as "quick to listen, slow to speak," and Proverbs 15:8 warns that a sacrifice offered by the wicked is detestable to the LORD.

Why it lands — The verse does not demand a particular ritual; it demands that the worshiper recognize the asymmetry between God in heaven and the person on earth, and that this recognition produce restraint in both voice and offering.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

שְׁמֹ֣רshe.Morguard רַגְלְךָ֗rag.lei./khafoot/ your כַּאֲשֶׁ֤רka./'a.Sher<just>/ when תֵּלֵךְ֙te.leKhyou will go אֶל־'el-to בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of הָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God וְקָר֣וֹבve./ka.Rovand/ draw near לִשְׁמֹ֔עַli/sh.Mo.a'to/ listen מִתֵּ֥תmi./Tetmore than/ giving הַכְּסִילִ֖יםha./ke.si.Limthe/ fools זָ֑בַחZa.vacha sacrifice כִּֽי־ki-for אֵינָ֥ם'ei.Na/mnot/ they יוֹדְעִ֖יםyod.'Im[are] knowing לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do רָֽע׃Ra'evil

King James Version

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Cross-references

James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Isaiah 1:12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts?
1 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Joshua 5:15 The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Psalms 89:7 In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
Isaiah 66:3 Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.