Ecclesiastes 10:9

9 He that beareth over stones, shall be tormented in those; and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded of those. (He who carrieth stones, can be hurt by them; and he who cutteth wood, can be injured when cutting it.)

Ecclesiastes 10:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:9

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith
That carries them from the quarry, where they are dug; or takes them from a heap, where they lie; or that attempts to pull them out of a building, where they are put; or removes them from places, where they are set as boundaries and landmarks; all which is troublesome, and by which men get hurt; the stones fall upon them, or are too heavy for them, or they do what they should not do, and so bring themselves into trouble; as do all such persons who are for removing the boundaries of commonwealths and communities, and for changing laws, and altering constitutions; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby;
of cutting himself: so he that soweth discord among brethren, that makes divisions in families, neighbourhoods, kingdoms, and churches; see ( Proverbs 6:16 Proverbs 6:19 ) ( Romans 16:18 ) . Jarchi renders it, "shall be warmed" or "heated", according to the sense of the word, as he thinks, in ( 1 Kings 1:2 ) ; though he understands it of being profited by studying in the law and the commandments; of which he interprets the clause; and Ben Melech observes, that the word so signifies in the Arabic language; and Mr. Broughton renders it, "shall be heated thereby". The Targum paraphrases it,

``shall be burnt with fire, by the hand of the Angel of the Lord:''
or, however, he may be overheated and do himself hurt, as men, that kindle the flame of contention and strife, often do.

Ecclesiastes 10:9 In-Context

7 I saw servants on horses, and princes as servants going on the earth. (I saw servants riding on horses, and princes, or leaders, walking on the ground like servants.)
8 He that diggeth a ditch, shall fall into it; and an adder shall bite him, that destroyeth a hedge. (He who diggeth a ditch, shall fall into it; and he who destroyeth a hedge, shall be bitten by a serpent hiding in it.)
9 He that beareth over stones, shall be tormented in those; and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded of those. (He who carrieth stones, can be hurt by them; and he who cutteth wood, can be injured when cutting it.)
10 If iron is folded again, and it is not as before, but is made blunt, it shall be made sharp with much travail; and wisdom shall follow after busyness.
11 If a serpent biteth, it biteth in silence; he that backbiteth privily, hath nothing less than it (he who privately, or secretly, backbiteth someone is no better).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.