Ecclesiastes 10:20

Ecclesiastes 10:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:20

18A roof sags because of laziness. A house leaks because of idle hands. 19A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything. Don’t curse the king even in your thoughts, and don’t curse rich people even in your bedroom. A bird may carry your words, or some winged creature may repeat what you say.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 word by word

גַּ֣ם בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ מֶ֚לֶךְ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֔ל וּבְחַדְרֵי֙ מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֖ל עָשִׁ֑יר כִּ֣י ע֤וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ יוֹלִ֣יךְ אֶת־הַקּ֔וֹל וּבַ֥עַל כְּנָפַ֖יִם יַגֵּ֥יד דָּבָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Curseקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• not the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• no not in thy thoughtמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
• not the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• in thy bedchamberמִשְׁכָּבmishkâb · bedH4904
• in thy bedchamberחֶ֫דֶרcheder · chamberH2315
• for a birdעוֹף‛ôph · birdH5775
• of the airשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• shall carryיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• and that which hathבַּעַלba‛al · master: menH1167
• wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• shall tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• the matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Exodus 22:28“Never show disrespect for God or curse a leader of your people.
• Isaiah 8:21They will pass through the land when they are hard-pressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they will be furious. Then they will look up, cursing their king and God.
• Acts 23:5Paul answered, “Brothers, I didn’t know that he is the chief priest. After all, Scripture says, ‘Don’t speak evil about a ruler of your people.’ ”
• Ecclesiastes 7:21Don’t take everything that people say to heart, or you may hear your own servant cursing you.
• Luke 19:40Jesus replied, “I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out.”
• Luke 10:40But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.”
• Luke 12:2Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Curse not the king - Do not permit thyself even to think evil of the king; lest thy tongue at some time give vent to thy thoughts, and so thou be chargeable with treason. For a bird of the air shall carry the voice - Does he refer here to such fowls as the carrier pigeon, which were often used to carry letters under their wings to a great distance, and bring back answers? The Targum turns it curiously: "Do not speak evil of the king in thy conscience, nor…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king. Ecclesiastes 10:16 A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old. Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11). Ecclesiastes…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 The happiness of a land depends on the character of its rulers. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish, and lovers of pleasure. Slothfulness is of ill consequence both to private and public affairs. Money, of itself, will neither feed nor clothe, though it answers the occasions of this present life, as what is to be had, may generally be had for money. But the soul, as it is not redeemed, so it is not maintained with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20It is often a mystery how others know what we have said. To manage our reputation, we should manage our thoughts.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. thought--literally, "consciousness." rich--the great. The language, as applied to earthly princes knowing the "thought," is figurative. But it literally holds good of the King of kings (Psa 139:1-24), whose consciousness of every evil thought we should ever realize. bed-chamber--the most secret place (2Ki 6:12). bird of the air, &c.--proverbial (compare Ha 2:11; Lu 19:40); in a way as marvellous and rapid, as if birds or some winged messenger carried…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Citizens
• King
• Reverence
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Birds
• 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