Ecclesiastes 10:7 BSB

Ecclesiastes 10:7

I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

KJV

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

⋯

Commentary

3 voices

Jerome

Commentary on Ecclesiastes (420)

"There is an evil that I have observed in the world as if it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is placed on lofty heights, while rich men sit in low places. I have seen slaves on horses and nobles walking on foot like slaves. "Where we read "as if it were an error proceeding from the ruler" Aquila, Theodotion and the Septuagint have interpreted this as "as if not of their own will", that is "hos akousian", from the face of the ruler.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

Gregory the Dialogist

Morals on the Book of Job, Book 31, Section 43 (604)

By the name 'horse' is understood temporal dignity, as Solomon witnesses, who says, "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth." For every one who sins is the servant of sin, and servants are upon horses, when sinners are elated with the dignities of the present life. But princes walk as servants, when no honour exalts many who are full of the dignity of virtues, but when the greatest misfortune here presses them down, as though unworthy. Hence it is said again; "They have slumbered who mounted horses."

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

If princes become tyrants, or subjects become rebels, all histories will tell both what is likely to be their fate and that it is at their utmost peril, and it were better for both to be content within their own bounds.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

9 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
רָאִ֥יתִי	ra.'I.ti	I have seen	H7200 →
עֲבָדִ֖ים	'a.va.Dim	slaves	H5650 →
עַל־	'al-	on	H5921 →
סוּסִ֑ים	su.Sim	horses	H5483 →
וְשָׂרִ֛ים	ve.sa.Rim	and princes	H8269 →
הֹלְכִ֥ים	ho.le.Khim	[who] walk	H1980 →
כַּעֲבָדִ֖ים	ka.'a.va.Dim	like slaves	H5650 →
עַל־	'al-	on	H5921 →
הָאָֽרֶץ׃	ha.'A.retz	the ground	H776 →

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
Esther 6:8
have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head.
leads to
- 1 Kings 1:33
  “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
- Esther 2:17
  And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon…
- 1 Samuel 18:4
  And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
Through
Proverbs 19:10
Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
leads to
- Proverbs 30:21–22
  Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
- Proverbs 26:1
  Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
- Luke 16:19
  Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
- Luke 16:23
  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
Through
Proverbs 30:22
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
leads to
- Proverbs 19:10
  Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

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