Geneva Study Bible Commentary
Ecclesiastes 10:10
If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more (f) strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.
(f) Without wisdom, whatever a man takes in hand, turns to his own hurt.
If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more (f) strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.
(f) Without wisdom, whatever a man takes in hand, turns to his own hurt.
Verse Ecclesiastes 10:10. _IF THE IRON BE BLUNT_] If the axe have lost its edge, and the owner do not sharpen it, he must apply the more strength to make it cut: but the _wisdom that is profitable to...
The figures seem to be taken from the work of building up and pulling down houses. In their general application, they recommend the man who would act wisely to be cautious when taking any step in life...
CHAPTER 10 This chapter contains a series of proverbs, expressing the wisdom and prudence of the natural man. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom a...
ECCLESIASTES 9:17 TO ECCLESIASTES 10:15. EXPERIENCE CRYSTALLISED IN PROVERBS. Ecclesiastes 9:17 to Eccle
_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 cu...
IF THE IRON BE BLUNT— _If an iron instrument be blunt, though the edge be not quite off, and he who wanteth to make use of it increaseth his strength, skill is more profitable to succeed:_ or it may b...
3. Failures in life result from lack of Wis. 10:8-11 TEXT 10:8-11 8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt...
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. IF THE LION BE BLUNT - in 'cleaving wood' (), answering to the 'fool set i...
PRACTICAL ADVICE TOUCHING LIFE'S PUZZLES 1-8. Cultivate wisdom and tact, specially in the dangers that attend upon courts, but also in ordinary operations....
If you are not wise enough to act with tactful sagacity, you must compensate for this by extra force....
THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 10 THE WAY THAT A FOOLISH PERSON BEHAVES – ECCLESIASTES 10:1-3 V1 Dead flies can ge...
The wording of this verse in the original is very obscure; and we can only say of the rendering in the text that it seems to be preferred to any which it has been proposed to substitute for it. The me...
אִם ־קֵהָ֣ה הַ בַּרְזֶ֗ל וְ הוּא֙ לֹא
FOURTH SECTION The Quest Achieved. The Chief Good Is To Be Found, Not In Wisdom, Nor In Pleasure, Nor In Devotion To Affairs And Its Rewards; But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li...
COMBINED WITH A STEADFAST FAITH IN THE LIFE TO COME. Ecclesiastes 10:9 - Ecclesiastes 12:7 But, soft; is not our man of men becoming a mere man of pleasure? No; for he recognises the claims of duty a...
How, then, does worldly wisdom work? The preacher shows that its first manifestation is discretion based upon selfishness. This section is a series of brief sayings which are of the nature of proverbs...
_Made blunt. After being repeatedly sharpened, (Calmet) it will be more difficult to cut with it, and will expose the person to hurt himself, ver. 9. (Haydock) --- Man, since original sin, is in a sim...
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. (9) Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereb...
THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...
IF THE IRON BE BLUNT,.... With which a man cleaves wood: the axe, made of iron: AND HE DO NOT WHET THE EDGE; with some proper instrument to make it sharper, that it may cut the more easily; THEN MUS...
_If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct._ Ver. 10. _If the iron be blunt._] Pliny _a_ calls iron the best and worst...
_If the iron be blunt_ The axe wherewith a man cuts wood; _he must put to more strength_ To make it cut: that is, if a man do not use fit and proper means to accomplish any work, it will cost him so m...
If the iron be blunt, the wood-chopper having neglected to tend to it in time, AND HE DO NOT WHET THE EDGE, THEN MUST HE PUT TO MORE STRENGTH, for splitting wood with a dull ax requires greater exerti...
IN THE MIDST OF PRESUMPTION AND ARROGANCE...
"IF THE AXE IS DULL AND HE DOES NOT SHARPEN ITS EDGE, THEN HE MUST EXERT MORE STRENGTH. WISDOM HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF GIVING SUCCESS." "The axe may be symbolic of all implements used by men in the acti...
4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yieldin...
THE IRON, to wit, the axe whereby he cut the wood, in the former verse, which by the danger there mentioned may be supposed to be sharp; but now, saith he, if it happen to be blunt. PUT TO MORE STRENG...
Ecclesiastes 10:10 ax H1270 dull H6949 (H8765) sharpen H7043 (H8773) edge H6440 use H1396 (H8762) stren
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTING THOUGHTFULLY AND WITH GREAT CARE WITH REGARD TO THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE (ECCLESIASTES 10:8). Ecclesiastes 10:8 ‘He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a...
Ecclesiastes 10:10 I. In chap. xi. Koheleth urges upon us the necessity of diligence. He has come to the conclusion that it is not worth while to have a nicely calculated scheme of life, because at ev...
Ecclesiastes 8:16-12 I. The Preacher commences this section by carefully defining his position and equipment as he starts on his last course. (1) His first conclusion is that wisdom, which of all temp...
CONTENTS: Proverbs recommending wisdom as of great use for the right ordering of our lives. CHARACTERS: Solomon. CONCLUSION: Fools are apt, at every turn, to proclaim their folly, for if one is lack...
Ecclesiastes 10:1. _Dead flies cause the ointment,_ of exquisite perfumes, _to send forth a stinking savour;_ a satirical proverb, applicable to characters in all the public walks of life. A general,...
_If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength._ THE IRON BLUNT, AND THE IRON WHETTED I. The less facilities in work, the greater is the strength required. The...
TRY A GRINDSTONE If the iron [axe] be blunt. Ecclesiastes 10:10. Hate you ever tried to break sticks with a very blunt axe? If you have, you know what a hard job it is. You chop and chop, and better...
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 10:8 The various disasters described in vv. Ecclesiastes 10:8 are all accidental, so the one WHO DIGS A PIT is
CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 10:5. AS AN ERROR WHICH PROCEEDETH FROM THE RULER.] Not a mere error, as such, but one which is manifest by its consequences—caprices of despotism like those described i...
EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Section 11. _A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, _and is sure to make itself conspicuous. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to sen...
Chapter 10: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking odor: so does a little folly to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1). There are cert...
1 Chronicles 12:32; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Kings 3:9; 2 Chronicles 23:4;...
Wisdom — As wisdom instructs a man in the smallest matters, so it is useful for a man's direction in all weighty affairs....