Ecclesiastes 10:10

Ecclesiastes 10:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
• New International Version (NIV)If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:10

8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 word by word

אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְר֥וֹן הַכְשֵׁ֖ר חָכְמָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If the ironבַּרְזֶלbarzel · ironH1270
• be bluntקָהָהqâhâh · be bluntH6949
• and he do not whetקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• the edgeפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• then must he putגָּבַרgâbar · to prevailH1396
• to more strengthחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• but wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• profitableיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504
• to directכָּשֵׁרkâshêr · to succeedH3787

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:10

• Ecclesiastes 10:15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city.
• Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
• Genesis 41:33“So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
• Exodus 18:19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him.
• 1 Kings 8:9Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.
• 1 Chronicles 12:32From the Issacharites, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their relatives under their command.
• 2 Chronicles 23:4This is what you are to do: a third of you, priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath, are to be gatekeepers.
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
• Acts 6:1In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
• Acts 15:2After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.
• Romans 16:19The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.
• Ephesians 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise —
• Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.
• James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10If the iron be blunt - If the axe have lost its edge, and the owner do not sharpen it, he must apply the more strength to make it cut: but the wisdom that is profitable to direct will teach him, that he should whet his axe, and spare his strength. Thus, without wisdom and understanding we cannot go profitably through the meanest concerns in life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-10Verses 8-10 The figures seem to be taken from the work of building up and pulling down houses. In their general application, they recommend the man who would act wisely to be cautious when taking any step in life which involves risk. Ecclesiastes 10:8 Breaketh an hedge - Rather: “breaks through a wall.” Serpent - The habit of snakes is to nestle in a chink of a wall, or among stones (compare Amos 5:19). Ecclesiastes 10:9 Be endangered - Rather: “cut…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10skill produces success: In every job, tools must be in good condition to work well. Sharpening a dull ax is wise for those who rely on it for their livelihood.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. iron ... blunt--in "cleaving wood" (Ec 10:9), answering to the "fool set in dignity" (Ec 10:6), who wants sharpness. More force has then to be used in both cases; but "force" without judgment "endangers" one's self. Translate, "If one hath blunted his iron" [Maurer]. The preference of rash to judicious counsellors, which entailed the pushing of matters by force, proved to be the "hurt" of Rehoboam (1Ki 12:1-33). wisdom is profitable to direct--to a…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:10

• Iron
• Prudence
• Wisdom

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