Ecclesiastes 7:10

Ecclesiastes 7:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:10

8The end of something is better than its beginning. It is better to be patient than arrogant. 9Don’t be quick to get angry, because anger is typical of fools. Don’t ask, “Why were things better in the old days than they are now?” It isn’t wisdom that leads you to ask this! 11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun. 12Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 word by word

אַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחָכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• that the formerרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• were betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than these? for thou dost not enquireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• wiselyחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Judges 6:13Gideon responded, “Excuse me, sir! But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and has handed us over to Midian.”
• Jeremiah 44:17We will do everything we said we would do. We will burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out wine offerings to her as our ancestors, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem. We had plenty to eat then, and we lived comfortably and saw no disaster.
• Genesis 6:11The world was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence.
• Psalms 14:2The Lord looks down from heaven on Adam’s descendants to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God.
• Isaiah 50:1This is what the Lord says: Where are your mother’s divorce papers? Did I give her any to get rid of her? To which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins. I got rid of your mother because of your rebellion.
• Romans 1:22While claiming to be wise, they became fools.
• Romans 3:9What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin,

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10The former days were better than these? - This is a common saying; and it is as foolish as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they, men might be more religious, use more self-denial, be more exemplary." This is all false. In former days men were wicked as they are now, and religion was unfashionable: God also is the same now as he was then; as just…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22God's control over everything is serious, but it gives us hope.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Do not call in question God's ways in making thy former days better than thy present, as Job did (Job 29:2-5). The very putting of the question argues that heavenly "wisdom" (Margin) is not as much as it ought made the chief good with thee.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Murmuring

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings