Ecclesiastes 10:10-12

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Ecclesiastes 10:10 tn The term “ax head” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. The preceding noun “iron” functions as a metonymy of material (i.e., iron) for the object with which it is associated (i.e., ax head).
2. Ecclesiastes 10:10 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the workman) is implied, and has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3. Ecclesiastes 10:10 tn The verb קלל in the Pilpel means “to sharpen; to make a blade sharp” (HALOT 1104 s.v. קלל 1).This denominative verb is derived from the rare noun II קָלַל “smooth; shiny” (referring to bronze; Ezek 1:7; Dan 10:6; HALOT 1105 s.v.). Sharpening the blade or head of a bronze ax will make it smooth and shiny. It is not derived from I קָלַל (qalal) “to treat light” or the noun I קְלָלָה (q^elalah) “curse.” Nor is it related to I קָלַל “to shake” (Ezek 21:26); cf. HALOT 1104. BDB 886 s.v. קָלַל 2 erroneously relates it to I קָלַל, suggesting “to whet” or “to move quickly to and fro.”
4. Ecclesiastes 10:10 tn Heb “face.”
5. Ecclesiastes 10:10 tn Heb “strength.” The term וַחֲיָלִים (vakhayalim, conjunction + plural noun from חַיִל, khayil, “strength; efficiency”) is an example of a plural of intensification (GKC 397-98 §124.e). The point is that it is a waste of a great deal of strength and energy. If a person is not smart, he will have to use a lot of energy and waste his efficiency.
6. Ecclesiastes 10:11 tn Heb “without charming.”
7. Ecclesiastes 10:11 tn Heb “the master of the tongue.”
8. Ecclesiastes 10:11 tn Heb “has no profit”; ASV, NAB, NRSV “there is no advantage.”
9. Ecclesiastes 10:12 tn Heb “of a wise man’s mouth.”
10. Ecclesiastes 10:12 tn The phrase “win him” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
11. Ecclesiastes 10:12 tn Or “are gracious.” The antithetical parallelism suggests that חֵן (khen) does not denote “gracious character” but “[gain] favor” (e.g., Gen 39:21; Exod 3:21; 11:3; 12:36; Prov 3:4, 34; 13:15; 22:1; 28:23; Eccl 9:11); cf. HALOT 332 s.v. חֵן 2; BDB 336 s.v. חֵן 2. The LXX, on the other hand, rendered חֶן with χάρις (charis, “gracious”). The English versions are divided: “are gracious” (KJV, YLT, ASV, NASB, NIV) and “win him favor” (NEB, RSV, NRSV, NAB, MLB, NJPS, Moffatt).
12. Ecclesiastes 10:12 tn Heb “lips.”
13. Ecclesiastes 10:12 tn Heb “consume him”; or “engulf him.” The verb I בָּלַע (balaʿ, “to swallow”) creates a striking wordplay on the homonymic root II בָּלַע (“to speak eloquently”; HALOT 134-35 s.v בלע). Rather than speaking eloquently (II בלע, “to speak eloquently”), the fool utters words that are self-destructive (I בָּלַע, “to swallow, engulf”).