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Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

KJV

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

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Commentary

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
אִם־'im-ifH518 →
קֵהָ֣הke.Hahit is bluntH6949 →
הַבַּרְזֶ֗לha.bar.Zelthe iron [axe]H1270 →
וְהוּא֙ve.Hu'and heH1931 →
לֹא־lo'-notH3808 →
פָנִ֣יםfa.NimfacesH6440 →
קִלְקַ֔לkil.Kalhe has sharpenedH7043 →
וַחֲיָלִ֖יםva.cha.ya.Limand strength<s>H2428 →
יְגַבֵּ֑רye.ga.Berhe will make strongH1396 →
וְיִתְר֥וֹןve.yit.Ronand [is] advantageH3504 →
הַכְשֵׁ֖רhakh.Sheirto give successH3787 →
חָכְמָֽה׃chokh.mahwisdomH2451 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.Colossians 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.Ecclesiastes 10:15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.Ephesians 5:15–17Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,Ecclesiastes 9:15–17Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.1 Kings 3:9Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”Acts 6:1–9In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.Romans 16:19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.Genesis 41:33–39Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.Proverbs 2:11Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,Exodus 18:19–23Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.1 Chronicles 12:32From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.Matthew 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.2 Chronicles 23:4–11This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,2 Kings 6:5As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh, my master,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!”Ecclesiastes 10:2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.Acts 15:2–21And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
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