Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Ecclesiastes 10:11

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

Without enchantment - if "enchantment" is not used.

And a babbler (a babbling calumniator) is no better. Therefore, as one may escape a serpent by charms (Psalms 58:4), so one may escape the sting of a calumniator by discretion (). (Holden.) Thus, "without enchantment" answers to "not whet the edge" (), both expressing, figuratively, want of judgment. Maurer translates, 'There is no gain to the enchanter from his enchantments, because the serpent bites before he uses them. It is no use to a subject, however expert with his tongue, afterward to try to appease the auger of his prince when he not tried to do so at first. I prefer the former view. The 'master of the tongue' is an evil speaker, whose chief possession is his tongue (; , margin, 'let not a man of tongue be established in the earth'). Since the serpent-brood of Satan and the worldly "generation of vipers" are ever ready to bite the godly, hence, the need of continual caution. Ecclesiastes 10:8, caution in acting; from the want of such godly caution the wicked, while breaking their neighbour's hedge, are suddenly 'bitten' by the "serpent" out of it; , and following verses, caution in speaking.

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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Old Testament

New Testament