Ecclesiastes 10:11

11 If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

Ecclesiastes 10:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:11

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment
See ( Jeremiah 8:17 ) . Or rather, "without a whisper" ^F20; without hissing, or any noise, giving no warning at all: so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "in silence"; some serpents bite, others sting, some both; see ( Proverbs 23:32 ) ; some hiss, others not, as here; and a babbler is no better;
a whisperer, a backbiter, a busy tattling body, that goes from house to house, and, in a private manner, speaks evil of civil governments, of ministers of the word, and of other persons; and; in a secret way, defames men, and detracts from their characters: such an one is like a venomous viper, a poisonous serpent or adder; and there is no more guarding against him than against such a creature that bites secretly.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (vxl alb) "absque susurro", Pagniuus; "absque sibilo", Tigurine version.

Ecclesiastes 10:11 In-Context

9 Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.

10 If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.

11 If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.