New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 10:8
8He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
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 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
6Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. 7I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings 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 9:5Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.
- 2 Samuel 17:23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 2 Samuel 18:15And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
- Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
- Psalms 7:15He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
- Psalms 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
- Proverbs 26:27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
- Amos 5:19It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!
- Amos 9:3And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, From there I will search and take them; Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, From there I will command the serpent, and it shall 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries