The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:5 Explained

Ecclesiastes 7:5

KJV: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

YLT: Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than for a man to hear a song of fools,

Darby: It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.

ASV: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[It is] better  to hear  the rebuke  of the wise,  than for a man  to hear  the song  of fools. 

What does Ecclesiastes 7:5 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 7

1  remedies against vanity are, a good name
2  mortification
7  patience
11  wisdom
23  The difficulty of wisdom

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 7:5 mean?

[it is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools
ט֕וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ גַּעֲרַ֣ת חָכָ֑ם מֵאִ֕ישׁ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ שִׁ֥יר כְּסִילִֽים

ט֕וֹב  [it  is]  better 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ  to  hear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
גַּעֲרַ֣ת  the  rebuke 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: גְּעָרָה  
Sense: a rebuke, reproof.
חָכָ֑ם  of  the  wise 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
מֵאִ֕ישׁ  Than  for  a  man 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
שֹׁמֵ֖עַ  to  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
שִׁ֥יר  the  song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
כְּסִילִֽים  of  fools 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.