Ecclesiastes 10:14

Ecclesiastes 10:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
• New International Version (NIV)and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
• English Standard Version (ESV)A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
• New King James Version (NKJV)A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:14

12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

Ecclesiastes 10:14 word by word

וְהַסָּכָ֖ל יַרְבֶּ֣ה דְבָרִ֑ים לֹא־יֵדַ֤ע הָאָדָם֙ מַה־שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִֽהְיֶה֙ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• A foolסָכָלsâkâl · foolH5530
• also is fullרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• of wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• cannot tellיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• what shall be; and what shall be afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• him, who can tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Ecclesiastes 5:3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
• Proverbs 10:19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
• Job 34:37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
• Job 35:16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
• Ecclesiastes 3:22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
• Ecclesiastes 6:12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
• Ecclesiastes 8:7For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
• James 4:13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14A man cannot tell what shall be - A foolish babbling man will talk on every subject, though he can say as little on the past, as he can on the future.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Full of words - Confident talking of the future is indicated rather than mere loquacity. Compare James 4:13.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly multiply. Fools…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14the fool multiplies words: Fools often speak about nothing important (see Ecclesiastes 5:3; 6:11; Proverbs 10:19; 17:28). who can tell him what will come after him?: Wise people avoid foolish talk and its consequences (see James 4:13–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. full of words--(Ec 5:2). a man cannot tell what shall be--(Ec 3:22; 6:12; 8:7; 11:2; Pr 27:1). If man, universally (including the wise man), cannot foresee the future, much less can the fool; his "many words" are therefore futile.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:14

• Fool
• Speaking
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Synagogue, the Great

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