New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:3
3Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:3
1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are. 4If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
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 5:3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
- Proverbs 13:16All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
- Proverbs 18:2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
- 1 Peter 4:4They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on 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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