Ecclesiastes 10:11 BSB

Ecclesiastes 10:11

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

KJV

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Rather: “If a serpent without enchantment (i. e., not being enchanted) bites, then there is no advantage to the charmer”: i. e., if the charmer is unwisely slack in exercising his craft, he will be bitten like other people. See Psa 58:4 note.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He that is lord of the tongue (so the phrase is), a ruler that has liberty of speech and may say what he will, it is as dangerous dealing with him as with a serpent uncharmed; but, if you use the enchantment of a mild and humble submission, you may be safe and out of danger; herein wisdom, the meekness of wisdom, is profitable to direct.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

A "serpent will bite" if "enchantment" is not used; "and a babbling calumniator is no better." Therefore, as one may escape a serpent by charms (Ps 58:4, 5), so one may escape the sting of a calumniator by discretion (Ec 10:12), [HOLDEN]. Thus, "without enchantment" answers to "not whet the edge" (Ec 10:10), both expressing, figuratively, want of judgment.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

9 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
אִם־	'im-	if	H518 →
יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ	yi.Shokh	it will bite	H5391 →
הַנָּחָ֖שׁ	ha.na.Chash	the snake	H5175 →
בְּלוֹא־	be.lo'-	with not	H3808 →
לָ֑חַשׁ	La.chash	charming	H3908 →
וְאֵ֣ין	ve.'Ein	and there not	H369 →
יִתְר֔וֹן	yit.Ron	[is] profit	H3504 →
לְבַ֖עַל	le.Va.'al	for [the] master of	H1167 →
הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃	ha.la.Shon	the tongue	H3956 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
leads to
- Ephesians 4:29
  Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Matthew 12:35–37
  The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
- Colossians 4:6
  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Proverbs 10:19–21
  When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- James 3:6–9
  The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on…
Through
Psalms 64:3
who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
leads to
- Psalms 57:4
  My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Proverbs 12:18
  Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Psalms 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
leads to
- Proverbs 18:21
  Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

About Ecclesiastes

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

Ecclesiastes: the study guide →Read chapter 10 →The featured study →

Continue: Ecclesiastes 10 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Ecclesiastes

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Ecclesiastes