Ecclesiastes 10:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:4-11

The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon's reign the people were very rich, and lived in prosperity, which perhaps made them proud and petulant, and when the taxes were high, though they had enough to pay them with, it is probable that many conducted themselves insolently towards the government and threatened to rebel. To such Solomon here gives some necessary cautions. I. Let not subjects carry on a quarrel with their prince upon any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it ,.... This and the three following clauses are proverbial expressions, teaching men to be wise and cautious, lest by their conduct they bring mischief upon themselves; as it often is, the one that digs a pit for another, falls into it himself, as the wise man's father before him had observed, Psalm 7:15 ; as kings that lay snares for their people, and subjects that plot against their sovereign; or courtiers that form schemes for the rain of those... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:8

Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him - While spoiling his neighbor's property, he himself may come to greater mischief: while pulling out the sticks, he may be bit by a serpent, who has his nest there. Some have supposed that נחש nachash here means a thorn; perhaps from the similarity of its prick to the serpent's sting. He who forces his way through a hedge will be pricked by the thorns. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it. This proverb occurs in Proverbs 26:27 , and, as expressive of the retribution that awaits evil-doers, finds parallels in Psalms 7:15 , Psalms 7:16 ; Psalms 9:15 ; Psalms 10:2 ; Ecclesiasticus 27:25, 26. The" pit" ( gummats, ἅπαξ λεγόμενον ) is such a one as was made to capture wild animals, and the maker of it is supposed to approach it incautiously, and to fall into it. But the scope of our passage is rather to speak of what may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:8-11

Section 13. Various proverbs expressing the benefit of prudence and caution, and the danger of folly . The connection with what has preceded is not closely marked, but is probably to be found in the bearing of the maxims on the conduct of the wise man who has incurred the resentment of a ruler, and might be inclined to disaffection and revolt. They are intentionally obscure and capable of a double sense—a necessary precaution if the writer lived under Persian despots. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:8-10

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 which involves risk.Ecclesiastes 10:8Breaketh an hedge - Rather: “breaks through a wall.”Serpent - The habit of snakes is to nestle in a chink of a wall, or among stones (compare Amos 5:19).Ecclesiastes 10:9Be endangered - Rather: “cut himself.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 10:8-9

Ecclesiastes 10:8-9. He that diggeth a pit, &c. The meaning of these verses, which may be considered as common proverbs, is, that those who are seeking and striving to injure others, often bring mischiefs thereby on their own heads; as he that digs a pit for another may, unawares, fall into it himself; and he who, in those hot countries, was pulling up a hedge, was in danger of being bit by a serpent lurking in it; and he that removes stones to undermine his neighbour’s house, may... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Thoughts on wisdom and folly (9:13-10:20)A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. Riches, status and a show of power are the things people admire. If a person lacks these, he is ignored or despised, even though his quiet words of wisdom may save a city from destruction (13-18).One foolish act can spoil a lot of good. Stupidity leads to wrongdoing and marks a person out as a fool in the eyes of everyone... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 10:8

hedge = a wall built of loose stones without mortar. Hebrew. gader, used especially of sheep-folds (Numbers 32:16 , Numbers 32:24 , Numbers 32:36 ; 1 Samuel 24:3 ). Zephaniah 2:6 ); also for fencing pathways between the vineyards (Numbers 22:24 .Psalms 62:3 ; Psalms 80:12 ). The crevices between the loose stones form hiding-places for lizards and other creeping things. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:8

"He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him."Haman's being hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai is the classical example of what is meant by the first line. Regarding the second line, "Breaking through a fence, one is stung by a serpent lurking in the stones of his neighbor's garden wall."[6] read more

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