Ecclesiastes 7:21

Study note

Setting — The Preacher addresses readers who have just acknowledged universal human sinfulness, warning them against overreacting to every remark made in their presence. He speaks from a reflective stance on social vulnerability and the breakdown of trust.

The words — The phrase תִתֵּן לִבְּךָ (ti.ten libbekha) literally means "you give your heart," directing the reader toward the act of internalizing speech. The verb יְדַבֵּרוּ (ye.da.be.ru) denotes continuous speaking, highlighting how persistent remarks can accumulate into offense.

The thread — The warning mirrors the practical caution in Proverbs 30:10 against provoking a servant who may retaliate with a curse. It aligns with the scriptural pattern of recognizing human fallibility in speech, as noted in 2 Samuel 16:10 and Isaiah 29:21 regarding the consequences of spoken words and false charges.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to stop treating every spoken remark as a personal indictment and to withhold defensive attention. It asks for measured perception rather than reactive introspection, grounded in the acknowledgment that the reader themselves has spoken harshly.

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.