Ecclesiastes 5:4
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Cross-references
Genesis 35:3 shows Jacob declaring his intent to fulfill his vow to God — a clear example of timely vow fulfillment.
Matthew 5:33-37 quotes the OT vow-fulfillment command but then Jesus prohibits oaths altogether — a direct contrast to Ecclesiastes.
Jonah 2:9 records Jonah vowing to pay what he promised in distress, exemplifying the urgent fulfillment of vows.
Isaiah 19:21 prophesies that Egyptians will make and perform vows to God — extending the principle to all nations.
Psalm 116:16-18 combines vow payment with thanksgiving and calling on God, showing it as part of grateful worship — a strong parallel.
Psalm 116:14 depicts public payment of vows, emphasizing the seriousness and public nature of fulfilling vows to God.
Psalm 76:11 says 'Make vows to the Lord your God and perform them' — a direct parallel to Ecclesiastes' call to fulfill.
Psalm 66:14 adds context that vows are often made in trouble, reinforcing the need to fulfill them as promised.
Psalm 66:13 directly illustrates paying vows, showing this was a common act of worship — a clear parallel to the command.
Psalm 50:14 commands performing vows to God — reinforcing the same duty to fulfill what is promised.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 contains nearly identical warning: do not delay fulfilling vows — Ecclesiastes echoes this law.
Numbers 30:2 gives the law that a man must not break his vow — the same obligation Ecclesiastes urges to fulfill promptly.
Job 22:27 directly promises that the one who pays vows will be heard, linking prayer and vow fulfillment.
Psalm 22:25 declares the psalmist's commitment to pay vows, providing a model of faithful practice consistent with this teaching.
Psalm 56:12 shows a positive example of fulfilling vows to God, reinforcing the call to pay what is vowed without delay.
Deuteronomy 23:23 states the same principle: keep what you have vowed, reinforcing the command to pay promptly.
Proverbs 20:25 warns that reconsidering a vow is a trap, directly echoing the admonition to pay vows promptly.
Genesis 35:7 shows Jacob building an altar at Bethel, fulfilling his earlier vow to make Bethel God's house — a narrative example of paying vows.
Malachi 1:14 condemns offering a blemished animal after vowing a perfect one, a specific violation of paying vows as warned in Ecclesiastes.
1 Samuel 1:11 shows Hannah making a vow and later keeping it, a positive example of faithful vow fulfillment.
Judges 11:30 records Jephthah's rash vow, illustrating the danger of making vows without thought—a background to the wisdom here.
Leviticus 22:21 adds that a vow offering must be without defect, emphasizing careful fulfillment beyond just timeliness.
Leviticus 22:18 gives the law for offering sacrifices to fulfill a vow, providing the ritual context for the general command here.
Acts 5:3 exposes Ananias lying about his gift, paralleling the dishonesty of promising a vow and not fully paying it.
Leviticus 27:2 deals with valuing persons vowed to God, showing another form of vow that requires fulfillment.
Genesis 28:20 records Jacob's vow to God — an example of making a vow, while Ecclesiastes warns against delaying fulfillment.