New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:6
6Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
Ecclesiastes 10:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
- English Standard Version (ESV)folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.
- New Living Translation (NLT)when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:6
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: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:6 word by word
נִתַּ֣ן הַסֶּ֔כֶל בַּמְּרוֹמִ֖ים רַבִּ֑ים וַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים בַּשֵּׁ֥פֶל יֵשֵֽׁבוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:6
- Judges 9:14“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
- 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,
- Esther 3:1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
- Psalms 12:8who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.
- Proverbs 28:12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
- James 2:3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:6
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6The “evil” of Ecclesiastes 10:5 is here specified as that caprice of a king by which an unworthy favorite of low origin is promoted to successive dignities, while a noble person is degraded or neglected.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. 5-7Giving power to those who cannot use it wisely is a big mistake. Favoritism, nepotism, extortion, and bribery can put reckless people in powerful positions.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. rich--not in mere wealth, but in wisdom, as the antithesis to "folly" (for "foolish men") shows. So Hebrew, rich, equivalent to "liberal," in a good sense (Is 32:5). Mordecai and Haman (Es 3:1, 2; 6:6-11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:6
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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