New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 10:3
3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.
Ecclesiastes 10:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
- New International Version (NIV)Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:3
1One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. 2A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. 4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. 5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:3 word by word
וְגַם־בַּדֶּ֛רֶךְ כְּשֶׁסָּכָ֥ל הֹלֵ֖ךְ לִבּ֣וֹ חָסֵ֑ר וְאָמַ֥ר לַכֹּ֖ל סָכָ֥ל הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:3
- Ecclesiastes 5:3Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.
- Proverbs 13:16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- Proverbs 18:2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.
- 1 Peter 4:4So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3When - a fool walketh by the way - In every act of life, and in every company he frequents, the irreligious man shows what he is. Vanity, nonsense, and wickedness are his themes: so that in effect he saith to every one that he is a fool.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3“Way” may be understood either literally (compare Ecclesiastes 10:15), or figuratively, of the course of action which he follows. He saith - He exposes his folly to every one he meets.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3These two proverbs highlight the foolishness of unwise people. They make poor choices, and their actions reveal their lack of wisdom.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. by the way--in his ordinary course; in his simplest acts (Pr 6:12-14). That he "saith," virtually, "that he" himself, &c. [Septuagint]. But Vulgate, "He thinks that every one (else whom he meets) is a fool."Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:3
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries