Ecclesiastes 5 · a question people ask
"It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay" (5:5). Is the Preacher saying not to make vows?
The verse compares two things and calls one better: not vowing, over vowing and not paying (5:5). The verse before speaks of vows made and paid: "When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it … Pay that which you vow" (5:4). The law says both things. "But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you" (Deuteronomy 23:22), and "You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips" (Deuteronomy 23:23). What Ecclesiastes 5:5 sets against is a vow left unpaid, and the next verse adds, "Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin" (Ecclesiastes 5:6). Jesus also spoke of vows and oaths (Matthew 5:33-37), and the notes on Numbers 30 and Leviticus 5 look at his words there. The notes on Proverbs 20 set that chapter's warning about a rash dedication beside his words on counting the cost first (Luke 14:28-30). These notes don't apply 5:5 to any promise anyone has made today.
The verses
“When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?”
“But if you refrain from making a vow, it shall be no sin in you. You shall observe and do that which has gone out of your lips. Whatever you have vowed to the LORD your God as a free will offering, which you have promised with your mouth, you must do.”
““Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”
“It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.”