New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 10:8
8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
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
6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:8 word by word
חֹפֵ֥ר גּוּמָּ֖ץ בּ֣וֹ יִפּ֑וֹל וּפֹרֵ֥ץ גָּדֵ֖ר יִשְּׁכֶ֥נּוּ נָחָֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:8
- Judges 9:5He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal’s youngest son, escaped, because he hid.
- 2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father.
- 2 Samuel 18:15Then ten soldiers who were Joab’s armor bearers struck Absalom and finished him off.
- Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The king’s rage then abated.
- Psalms 7:15he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.
- Psalms 9:15The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.
- Proverbs 26:27The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him.
- Amos 5:19Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake.
- Amos 9:3Even if they were to hide on the top of Mount Carmel, I would hunt them down and take them from there. Even if they tried to hide from me at the bottom of the sea, from there I would command the Sea Serpent to 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
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
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