Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron be blunt The proverb seems obviously suggested by that of the preceding verse, but its meaning is far from clear. The axe (literally, the iron) is used to cut wood. What if it fail to cut (i. e.if, going below the imagery, the man has not the sharpness or strength to carry his plans promptly into effect), if he (the cutter down of trees) has not sharpened its edge, literally its face as in Ezekiel 21:21, i.e.if he has entered on his plans without due preparation. In that case he must "put to more strength," must increase his force (i. e.the impact of his stroke). He will have to do by the iteration of main force what might have been effected by sagacity and finesse. So interpreted, the whole imagery is consistent. The man who enters on the perilous enterprise of reform or revolution has to face not only the danger that he may perish in the attempt, but the risk of failure through the disproportion of his resources to his ends. The meaning of the proverb would be clear to any one who united the character of an expert in felling timber with the experience of a political reformer. Briefly paraphrased, the maxim would run thus in colloquial English, "If you must cut down trees, take care that you sharpen your axe."

but wisdom is profitable to direct Better, But it is a gain to use wisdom with success, i.e.It is better to sharpen the axe than to go on hammering with a blunt one, better to succeed by skill and tact than by mere brute strength.

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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Old Testament

New Testament