Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 10:11

"If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.""If the man is bitten before he has time to use his charm, it is no profit to him that he has the secret----the warning against 'being too late', the greatest skill is useless unless applied at the right moment or applied at all" (P.P. Comm. p. 253) Hence, wisdom not used at the opportune time (Ephesians 5:16), is useless. In. similar manner, bible knowledge that isn't used to instruct those who desperately need it, is also rather useless.

But once again, under the sun, even great wisdom or skill can be completely nullified by bad timing. "Snake charming was. mysterious occupation that needed. special and esoteric expertise, but the skill was of no use after the snake bit someone. It was too late then to charm the snake; the damage had been done…even experts fail if they do not apply their skill" (Longman p. 245).

The verse may also be teaching that there is wisdom which is completely useless in everyday life. "Basically, the skill of. snake charmer is good for shows but not practical for everyday living, where snakebites are. matter of life and death" (Longman p. 246).

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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Old Testament

New Testament