Ecclesiastes 7:5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. Solomon observing court life where flattery flows upward and truth becomes rare. The king who had everything reflects on genuine wisdom.
The emotion here: regretful about years of hearing only flattery instead of truth
The original word
tôkēḥâ (תּוֹכֵחָה) — moral correction that stings but heals, like a surgeon's knife
Why it matters
Solomon received God's harshest rebuke through the prophet Ahijah for his idolatry
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 7:5
Solomon had surrounded himself with people who told him what he wanted to hear - this is his regret
Common misconceptionPeople think this means accepting all criticism. Solomon is specifically contrasting wise rebuke (from someone who cares) with empty praise from fools.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 7:5
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 7:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 7:5 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 growing, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, correction. Notable phrases: rebuke of the wise; song of fools.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 7:5 mean to you, today?
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