Ecclesiastes 10:14

Ecclesiastes 10:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
• New International Version (NIV)and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
• English Standard Version (ESV)A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
• New King James Version (NKJV)A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:14

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him? 15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. 16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

Ecclesiastes 10:14 word by word

וְהַסָּכָ֖ל יַרְבֶּ֣ה דְבָרִ֑ים לֹא־יֵדַ֤ע הָאָדָם֙ מַה־שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִֽהְיֶה֙ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Yet the foolסָכָלsâkâl · foolH5530
• multipliesרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• Noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• oneאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• knowsיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• is comingהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• and whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
• can tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• after himאַחַר'achar · afterH310

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Ecclesiastes 5:3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
• Proverbs 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
• Job 34:37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
• Job 35:16So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
• Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 8:7Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
• James 4:13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14A man cannot tell what shall be - A foolish babbling man will talk on every subject, though he can say as little on the past, as he can on the future.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Full of words - Confident talking of the future is indicated rather than mere loquacity. Compare James 4:13.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly multiply. Fools…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the fool multiplies words: Fools often speak about nothing important (see Ecclesiastes 5:3; 6:11; Proverbs 10:19; 17:28). who can tell him what will come after him?: Wise people avoid foolish talk and its consequences (see James 4:13–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. full of words--(Ec 5:2). a man cannot tell what shall be--(Ec 3:22; 6:12; 8:7; 11:2; Pr 27:1). If man, universally (including the wise man), cannot foresee the future, much less can the fool; his "many words" are therefore futile.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Fool
• Speaking
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• 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