Ecclesiastes 10:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

In these verses Solomon shows, I. What great need wise men have to take heed of being guilty of any instance of folly; for a little folly is a great blemish to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour, and is as hurtful to his good name as dead flies are to a sweet perfume, not only spoiling the sweetness of it, but making it to send forth a stinking savour. Note, 1. True wisdom is true honour, and will gain a man a reputation, which is like a box of precious ointment, pleasing and very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour ,.... Such, as Jarchi observes, are in the winter season, which are weak and near to death, and get into precious ointment, prepared after the best manner, where they die, and corrupt and spoil it: or, "flies of deaths" F13 זבובי מות "muscae mortis", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius, Amama, Cocceius, Rambachius. ; deadly ones, which have something in their nature poisonous and pernicious; which, when they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies - Any putrefaction spoils perfume; and so a foolish act ruins the character of him who has the reputation of being wise and good. Alas! alas! in an unguarded moment how many have tarnished the reputation which they were many years in acquiring! Hence, no man can be said to be safe, till he is taken to the paradise of God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor. This is a metaphorical confirmation of the truth enunciated at the end of the last chapter, "One sinner destroyeth much good." It is like the apostle's warning to his converts, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" ( 1 Corinthians 5:6 ). The Hebrew expression is literally, "flies of death," which may mean either "dead flies," as in our version and the Vulgate ( muses morientes ) , or "deadly, poisonous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

Section 11. A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, and is sure to make itself conspicuous. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:1

This verse is by its meaning so closely connected with Ecclesiastes 9:18 that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate.Apothecary - Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes (compare Exodus 30:25). The swarms of flies in the East very soon corrupt and destroy any moist unguent or mixture left uncovered, and pollute a dish of food in a few minutes.So doth ... - literally, more weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Ecclesiastes 10:1. Dead flies, &c. Solomon seems in these words to be prosecuting what he had said in the last clause of the preceding chapter; showing how much good one foolish action may destroy, what evil may result from it, and how a man, otherwise famed for wisdom, may thereby lose his reputation. So most interpreters understand the verse. “The wiser or better,” says Bishop Patrick, “any man is, so much the more cautious ought he to be in all his words and actions, if he mean to... 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 10:1

Dead flies. Hebrew flies of death: i.e. flies that bring or produce death. Supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis, "[as] dead". cause = [are that which will] cause, &c. to send forth a stinking savour = to stink [and] fer-ment. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 . folly = stupidity. Hebrew. sakal. Same root as in Ecclesiastes 10:6 . See note on Proverbs 1:7 . him. Note the Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) : "So doth stupidity [cause] him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:1

MISCELLANEOUS PROVERBSEcclesiastes 10:1"Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor."This proverb is actually an illustration of the last verses of Ecclesiastes 9. A little folly by a single sinner can destroy much good. Also there is discernible in it another application. A little folly can destroy the beauty and effectiveness of a noble character, in the same manner that a few dead flies in a small jar of expensive... read more

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