Revised Literal Translation
Ecclesiastes 10:1
1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.1
Ecclesiastes 10:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
- New International Version (NIV)As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. 2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yea 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.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:1 word by word
זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רוֹקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃Read the interlinear
- Deadמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
- fliesזְבוּבzebûb · flyH2070
- cause the ointmentשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- of the apothecaryרָקַחrâqach · to mixH7543
- to send forthנָבַעnâba‛ · to bubbleH5042
- a stinking savourבָּאַשׁbâ'ash · to stinkH887
- a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
- follyסִכְלוּתsiklûth ώiklûth · follyH5531
- him that is in reputationיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
- for wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- honourכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:1
- Exodus 30:34And Yhwh said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
- 2 Chronicles 19:2And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate Yhwh? therefore is wrath upon thee from before Yhwh.
- Nehemiah 6:13Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
- Nehemiah 13:26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
- Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
- Galatians 2:12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Dead flies - Any putrefaction spoils perfume; and so a foolish act ruins the character of him who has the reputation of being wise and good. Alas! alas! in an unguarded moment how many have tarnished the reputation which they were many years in acquiring! Hence, no man can be said to be safe, till he is taken to the paradise of God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1This verse is by its meaning so closely connected with Ecclesiastes 9:18 that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate. Apothecary - Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes (compare Exodus 30:25). The swarms of flies in the East very soon corrupt and destroy any moist unguent or mixture left uncovered, and pollute a dish of food in a few minutes. So doth - literally, more weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1To preserve a character for wisdom. (Eccl. 10:1-3) Respecting subjects and rulers. (Eccl. 10:4-10) Of foolish talk. (Eccl. 10:11-15) Duties of rulers and subjects. (Eccl. 10:16-20) Verses 1-3 Those especially who make a profession of religion, should keep from all appearances of evil. A wise man has great advantage over a fool, who is always at a loss when he has anything to do. Sin is the reproach of sinners, wherever they go, and shows their folly.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1one sinner destroys...a little folly outweighs: A little foolishness can ruin things. Sin and foolishness can quickly undo much good.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-20Ec 10:1-20. 1. Following up Ec 9:18. him that is in reputation--for example, David (2Sa 12:14); Solomon (1Ki 11:1-43); Jehoshaphat (2Ch 18:1-34; 19:2); Josiah (2Ch 35:22). The more delicate the perfume, the more easily spoiled is the ointment. Common oil is not so liable to injury. So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. Bad savor is endurable in oil, but not in what professes to be, and is…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:1
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead…: Heb. Flies of death. ↩
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries