Ecclesiastes 5:7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon contrasts people lost in elaborate dreams and endless religious chatter with simple reverence for God. Modern Israel/Palestine.
The emotion here: weary of people who talk more than they act
The original word
yir'ah (יִרְאָה) — fear/reverence, the awe that leads to right action, not terror
Why it matters
In Solomon's time, professional dreamers claimed to interpret divine messages for payment
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 5:7
This isn't anti-dreaming - it's about people who substitute grand visions for simple obedience
Common misconceptionPeople think this condemns having dreams or visions, but Solomon is criticizing those who get lost in fantasies instead of taking practical steps with reverent obedience.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 5:7
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 5:7 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 5:7 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, reverence. Notable phrases: fear God; many words; vanities. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 5:7 mean to you, today?
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