Ecclesiastes 10:1

Ecclesiastes 10:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
• New International Version (NIV)As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation]. 3Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 word by word

זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רוֹקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Deadמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• fliesזְבוּבzebûb · flyH2070
• cause the ointmentשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
• of the apothecaryרָקַחrâqach · to mixH7543
• to send forthנָבַעnâba‛ · to bubbleH5042
• a stinking savourבָּאַשׁbâ'ash · to stinkH887
• a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• follyסִכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
• him that is in reputationיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
• for wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• honourכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:1

• Exodus 30:34Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet and fragrant spices—stacte, onycha, and galbanum, sweet and fragrant spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal amount of each—
• 2 Chronicles 19:2Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the Lord and in doing so bring wrath from the Lord on yourself?
• Nehemiah 6:13He was hired for this reason, that I would be frightened and do as he said and sin, so that they would have [grounds to make] a malicious report in order to censure and disgrace me.
• Nehemiah 13:26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin [greatly against God] regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin [by turning to other gods and so, judged by God, he lost his kingdom].
• Matthew 5:13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].
• Galatians 2:12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat [his meals] with the Gentiles; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he began to withdraw and separate himself [from the Gentile believers], because he was afraid of those from the circumcision.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Dead flies - Any putrefaction spoils perfume; and so a foolish act ruins the character of him who has the reputation of being wise and good. Alas! alas! in an unguarded moment how many have tarnished the reputation which they were many years in acquiring! Hence, no man can be said to be safe, till he is taken to the paradise of God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This verse is by its meaning so closely connected with Ecclesiastes 9:18 that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate. Apothecary - Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes (compare Exodus 30:25). The swarms of flies in the East very soon corrupt and destroy any moist unguent or mixture left uncovered, and pollute a dish of food in a few minutes. So doth … - literally, more weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1To preserve a character for wisdom. (Eccl. 10:1-3) Respecting subjects and rulers. (Eccl. 10:4-10) Of foolish talk. (Eccl. 10:11-15) Duties of rulers and subjects. (Eccl. 10:16-20) Verses 1-3 Those especially who make a profession of religion, should keep from all appearances of evil. A wise man has great advantage over a fool, who is always at a loss when he has anything to do. Sin is the reproach of sinners, wherever they go, and shows their folly.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1one sinner destroys...a little folly outweighs: A little foolishness can ruin things. Sin and foolishness can quickly undo much good.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-20Ec 10:1-20. 1. Following up Ec 9:18. him that is in reputation--for example, David (2Sa 12:14); Solomon (1Ki 11:1-43); Jehoshaphat (2Ch 18:1-34; 19:2); Josiah (2Ch 35:22). The more delicate the perfume, the more easily spoiled is the ointment. Common oil is not so liable to injury. So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. Bad savor is endurable in oil, but not in what professes to be, and is…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:1

• Apothecary
• Flies
• Ointment
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Apothecary
• Direct
• Fly
• Idleness
• Prince
• Fly; Flies
• Insects
• Perfume; Perfumer
• Reputation
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings