Ecclesiastes 10:7

Ecclesiastes 10:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
• New International Version (NIV)I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:7

5I have seen another terrible thing that happens on the earth. It happens when a ruler does a silly thing. 6A ruler may give fools too much authority. At the same time, rich people have no authority. Slaves ride on horses, as important people do. At the same time, princes have to walk, as slaves do. 8If you dig a deep hole, you might fall into it. If you knock down a wall, a snake might bite you. 9If you cut stones out of the ground, a stone might hurt you. If you cut wood into pieces, a piece of it might hurt you.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 word by word

רָאִ֥יתִי עֲבָדִ֖ים עַל־סוּסִ֑ים וְשָׂרִ֛ים הֹלְכִ֥ים כַּעֲבָדִ֖ים עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• upon horsesסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• and princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• walkingהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:7

• Proverbs 19:10Fools should not live like rich people. Even worse, slaves should never have authority over rulers.
• Proverbs 30:22A slave who becomes a king. A fool who eats too much.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:7

• 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. 7slaves on horseback...princes go on foot: Compare Proverbs 19:10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. servants upon horses--the worthless exalted to dignity (Jr 17:25); and vice versa (2Sa 15:30).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:7

• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Eunuch
• 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