New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:8
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:8
6Fools 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. Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring 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 on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.
- 2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 2 Samuel 18:15And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
- Esther 7:10So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
- Psalms 7:15Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.
- Psalms 9:15The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
- Proverbs 26:27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
- Amos 5:19It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
- Amos 9:3Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the 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
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