Semper Reformanda

Ecclesiastes 7:5 | Word Study

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5 (KJV)

‘The rebuke of the wise,’ perhaps follows from the previous verse – the understanding of a wise man. Wisdom is understood as an understanding of the reality of sin, suffering, death, et cetera. To be reminded of such reality seems to be a thing of wisdom, and of the wise that is worth listening to. The song of the fools seems to be a contradiction and an ignorance of such reality. To quote Henry, “that it is much better for us to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise than to have them gratified by the song of fools.”

Reference:

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 7:1-6

Ecclesiastes 7:4 | Word Study

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 (KJV)

The ‘heart’ refers to the centre of anything… it may also refer to consent, will, intellect, et cetera. (H3824)[1] It seems the ‘heart’ refers to, where the focus of a person is located. Henry notes that for the wise, the focus remains on the natural state of our existence: sin, suffering, and death. Perhaps, this is why Qoheleth prefers this over empty indulgence of joy. Henry writes, “Sorrow is better than laughter, more agreeable to our present state, where we are daily sinning and suffering ourselves, more or less, and daily seeing the sins and sufferings of others.” This is why, the wise man centres himself to such state. Bartholomew writes, “The heart is the center of the person, and for Qohelet the ‘wise’ person’s center dwells in the house of mourning. Qohelet’s logic leads him to the view that the wise person is consumed with death and the fool with celebration and joy.” (212)

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic

Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 7:1-6

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3824/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Ecclesiastes 7:3 | Word Study

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Ecclesiastes 7:3 (KJV)

The word for ‘sorrow’ is derived from ka‛as כַּעַס, and it means ‘vexation, or anger.’ (H3708)[1] Here, anger is positioned in the context of our sinful existence, and God’s divine disapproval of it. (Provan, 161) In such a case, vexation of spirit is better. It reflects the sort of wisdom that invokes the understanding of the desperate state of the spiritual life. Laughter only deepens the vanity of life; it contributes to the enigma that humans are already entrenched in.

Reference:

Provan, I. (2001). Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs: The New Application Commentary, Zondervan

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3708/kjv/wlc/0-1/