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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 10:1

"Dead flies make. perfumer's oil stink, so. little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor."

'Dead flies" -"puts into. vividly unpleasant form the principle on which the previous chapter ended: that it takes far less to ruin something than to create it….it is easier to make. stink than to create sweetness. But in this verse it is the sudden lapse or foolish impulse that is the trouble: and there are endless instances of prizes forfeited and good beginnings marred in. single reckless moment---not only by the irresponsible, such as Esau, but by the sorely tried, such as Moses and Aaron" (Kidner p. 88). See Numbers 2:12.

"perfumer" -an ancient art (Exodus 30:33; Ecclesiastes 34:35).

"so" -indicating that. comparison is going to be made.

"little" -The point of the illustration is the comparative insignificance of the cause which spoils. costly substance which had been prepared with care, time and skill.. little fault or. little sin/foolishness can mar. reputation which was only acquired with tremendous effort and half. life-time. There is no such thing as. little sin (1 Corinthians 5:6; Acts 5:1ff; 2 Samuel 6:6-7). "It is. painful fact that. little folly, one foolish act, one silly manner or disposition, one hidden sin, will impair the real value of. man's wisdom and the estimation in which he was held" (P.P. Comm. 249) (Ezek. Ecclesiastes 18:24).

"weightier" -"So can. little folly make wisdom lose its worth" (NEB).. little foolishness can cancel out. great deal of wisdom. "even when. great deal of wisdom is present, things somehow get fouled up by. little folly" (Garrett p. 334). "wisdom and glory are wonderful and highly valued, but it just takes. touch of folly to spoil them" (Longman p. 239).

Points To Note:

1 This is also true in groups or congregations. One foolish member can really undo or cancel out the efforts of many. 2.. person can be extremely gifted and smart, but if they are harboring. sin in their life, then all their wisdom can become misdirected. One bad attitude, one prejudice, one area of arrogance can make us into very poor bible students.

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See also Ecclesiastes 10:1 in other biblical comments:

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Old Testament