Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes 5:5

אַל־תִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־פִּ֨יךָ֙ לַחֲטִ֣יא אֶת־בְּשָׂרֶ֔ךָ וְאַל־תֹּאמַר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י שְׁגָגָ֖ה הִ֑יא לָ֣מָּה יִקְצֹ֤ף הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־קֹולֶ֔ךָ וְחִבֵּ֖ל אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדֶֽיךָ׃ Syntax as Ethics This verse from Ecclesiastes 5:5 offers a striking ethical imperative—do not let your speech lead to sin, and do not excuse sin before a messenger of God. But more than just a moral maxim, the verse is syntactically intricate, weaving prohibitions, purpose clauses, and rhetorical questions into a finely structured warning. This article will unpack each syntactic layer to show how form intensifies function in Qohelet’s theology of words and consequences.… Learn Hebrew