Ecclesiastes 10:7

7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 in Other Translations

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!

7 I've seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

7 I have seen slaves sitting on horses and influential people going on foot like slaves.

7 I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

7 I've seen slaves on horseback. I've also seen princes who were forced to walk as if they were slaves.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:7

I have seen servants upon horses
Which being scarce in Judea, were only rode upon by princes and great personages, or such as were in affluent circumstances; and therefore it was an unusual and disagreeable sight to see servants upon them, which was a token of their being advanced upon the ruin and destruction of their masters; a reigning servant is not only uncomely, but one of the things by which the earth is disquieted, and it cannot bear, ( Proverbs 30:21 Proverbs 30:22 ) ; the Parthians and Persians distinguished their nobles and the vulgar, freemen and servants, by this; the servants went on foot, and the freemen rode on horses ^F18; and princes walking as servants upon the earth;
degraded from their honour; banished from their thrones and palaces, or obliged to leave them, and reduced to the lowest state and condition: so David, when his son rebelled against him, and he was forced to flee from him, and walk on foot, ( 2 Samuel 15:30 ) ; Alshech thinks it may be a prophecy of the captivity of Israel, when they walked as servants on the earth, and the Gentiles rode on horses.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Justin. e Trogo, l. 41. c. 3. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 5. c. 19.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 In-Context

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6 Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 19:10