Ecclesiastes 10:11

Ecclesiastes 10:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
• New International Version (NIV)If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:11

9Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby. 10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success. If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage. 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Ecclesiastes 10:11 word by word

אִם־יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ הַנָּחָ֖שׁ בְּלוֹא־לָ֑חַשׁ וְאֵ֣ין יִתְר֔וֹן לְבַ֖עַל הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃Read the interlinear

• advantageיִתְרוֹןyithrôn · advantageH3504

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:11

• Psalms 58:4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;
• Jeremiah 8:17For behold, I send among you serpents, vipers against which there is no charm, and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
• Psalms 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischievous things, like a sharp razor, practising deceit.
• Psalms 64:3Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, [and] have aimed their arrow, a bitter word;
• Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
• James 3:6and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The serpent will bite without enchantment - לחש בלא belo lachash, without hissing. As a snake may bite before it hiss, so also will the babbler, talkative person, or calumniator. Without directly speaking evil, he insinuates, by innuendoes, things injurious to the reputation of his neighbor. Gif the eddir bite in silence, noyhing lasse than he hath that privily backbiteth - Old MS. Bible. "A babbler of his tongue is no better than a serpent that styngeth…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Rather: “If a serpent without enchantment (i. e., not being enchanted) bites, then there is no advantage to the charmer”: i. e., if the charmer is unwisely slack in exercising his craft, he will be bitten like other people. See Psalm 58:4 note.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. 11One reason to charm a snake is to prevent it from biting, but a snake charmer risks a bite before charming it. Some jobs are so dangerous that smart people avoid them completely.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. A "serpent will bite" if "enchantment" is not used; "and a babbling calumniator is no better." Therefore, as one may escape a serpent by charms (Psa 58:4, 5), so one may escape the sting of a calumniator by discretion (Ec 10:12), [Holden]. Thus, "without enchantment" answers to "not whet the edge" (Ec 10:10), both expressing, figuratively, want of judgment. Maurer translates, "There is no gain to the enchanter" (Margin, "master of the tongue") from…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:11

• Fool
• Serpent
• Slander
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Charmer
• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Amulet
• Babbler
• Enchantment
• Magic; Magician
• Serpent
• Serpent-Charming

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