Ecclesiastes 10:8

Ecclesiastes 10:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:8

6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

Ecclesiastes 10:8 word by word

חֹפֵ֥ר גּוּמָּ֖ץ בּ֣וֹ יִפּ֑וֹל וּפֹרֵ֥ץ גָּדֵ֖ר יִשְּׁכֶ֥נּוּ נָחָֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• He who digsחָפַרchâphar · to searchH2658
• a pitגּוּמָּץgûmmâts · pitH1475
• may fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• serpentנָחָשׁnâchâsh · serpentH5175
• may biteנָשַׁךְnâshak · to biteH5391
• him who breaksפָּרַץpârats · to break throughH6555
• a wallגָּדֵרgâdêr · wallH1447

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:8

• Judges 9:5Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
• 2 Samuel 17:23Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.
• 2 Samuel 18:15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
• Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.
• Psalms 7:15He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the hole which he made.
• Psalms 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
• Proverbs 26:27He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
• Amos 5:19As when a man flees from a lion And a bear meets him, Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall And a snake bites him.
• Amos 9:3Though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; And though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I will command the serpent and it will bite them.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him - While spoiling his neighbor's property, he himself may come to greater mischief: while pulling out the sticks, he may be bit by a serpent, who has his nest there. Some have supposed that נחש nachash here means a thorn; perhaps from the similarity of its prick to the serpent's sting. He who forces his way through a hedge will be pricked by the thorns.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. 8-9Every activity needs wisdom. People show wisdom by taking safety precautions in their jobs, but some risk always remains.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The fatal results to kings of such an unwise policy; the wrong done to others recoils on themselves (Ec 8:9); they fall into the pit which they dug for others (Es 7:10; Psa 7:15; Pr 26:27). Breaking through the wise fences of their throne, they suffer unexpectedly themselves; as when one is stung by a serpent lurking in the stones of his neighbor's garden wall (Psa 80:12), which he maliciously pulls down (Am 5:19).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:8

• Fence
• Pit
• Serpent

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Fence
• Idleness
• Prince
• Serpent
• 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