Ecclesiastes - 7:22



22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:22.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.
For oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others.
Your heart has knowledge how frequently others have been cursed by you.
For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Thou thyself - hast cursed others - קללת kalalta, thou hast spoken evil; hast vilified others. O, who is free from evil speaking, from uncharitable speaking; from detailing their neighbor's faults, from whispering, talebearing, and backbiting? Do not wonder if God, in his justice, permit thee to be calumniated, seeing thou hast so frequently calumniated others. See my discourse on Psalm 15:1-5 (note).

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth,.... Or "thy conscience", as the Vulgate Latin version, which is as a thousand witnesses; which, if a man attends to, he will be convinced of his own faults, failings, and infirmities, he is frequently in the commission of. Particularly,
that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others; either in heart, or with the tongue; thought ill of them, wished ill to them; spoke contemptibly of them, reviled and reproached them; called them by bad names, and abused them; and said some very hard and severe words concerning them, in a passionate fit, being provoked; and afterwards repented of it, being better informed of the state of the case, or being convinced of the evil of passion and rash speaking; and therefore such should consider the like passions and infirmities of others, and pass over them, and forgive them: so Alshech,
"if thou hast cursed others, and dost desire men should forgive thee, so do thou also forgive;''
see Matthew 6:14. The word "oftentimes", in the first clause, is to be connected, not with the word "knoweth", as if a man often knew this, but with the word "cursed"; suggesting, that a man may be often guilty of this himself, and therefore should be more sparing of his censures of others; see Matthew 7:1.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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