Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes 4:17

Introduction to Ecclesiastes 4:17: Approaching the House of Elohim with Caution Ecclesiastes 4:17 (5:1 in English Bibles) opens with a striking imperative: שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ—“guard your feet.” This instruction is not about physical safety, but spiritual posture. Qohelet urges the worshiper to approach the house of Elohim not casually, but mindfully. Through grammatical precision and metaphor, the verse contrasts the wise listener with the foolish offerer of sacrifices. In this article, we explore the imperative form, poetic parallelism, and theological depth of the expression שְׁמֹ֣ר רַגְלֶיךָ and the surrounding syntax.… Learn Hebrew