Ecclesiastes 10:11

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אִם־יִשֹּׁ֥ךְ הַנָּחָ֖שׁ בְּלוֹא־לָ֑חַשׁ וְאֵ֣ין יִתְר֔וֹן לְבַ֖עַל הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃

Transliteration

If yiššōk hannāḥāš without lāḥaš wə-ʾên yitrôn to baʿal hallāšôn

Grammar Details

*yiššōk*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - bites
*hannāḥāš*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the serpent
*bəlôʾ-lāḥaš*: preposition + negative particle + masculine singular noun - without enchantment
*wə-ʾên*: conjunction + adverb of negation - and there is no
*yitrôn*: masculine singular noun - advantage/profit
*lə-baʿal*: preposition + masculine singular construct - to master of
*hallāšôn*: definite article + feminine singular noun - the tongue

Word Meanings

*yiššōk*: bites/will bite/may bite
*hannāḥāš*: the serpent/the snake
*lāḥaš*: enchantment/charm/spell
*yitrôn*: advantage/profit/benefit
*baʿal hallāšôn*: master of the tongue/charmer/enchanter

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 58:4-5 : 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear, 5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.
Jer 8:17 : 17 For, behold, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
Jas 3:6 : 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
Ps 64:3 : 3 Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Ps 52:2 : 2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 10:12-13
2 verses
77%
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Eccl 10:8-10
3 verses
76%
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Ps 58:4-5
2 verses
75%
4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
5Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.
Prov 23:32
75%
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
Job 20:16
74%
16He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him.
Jer 8:17
72%
17For, behold, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
Ps 140:3
71%
3They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. {H5542}
Prov 10:18-19
2 verses
70%
18He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
Prov 23:9
70%
9Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Jas 3:8
70%
8But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.
Amos 5:19
69%
19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Prov 10:31
69%
31The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.
Prov 26:18-19
2 verses
69%
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
Ps 36:3
69%
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise [and] to do good.
Prov 18:7-8
2 verses
69%
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Prov 10:10
68%
10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.
Ps 10:7
68%
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
Rom 3:13-14
2 verses
68%
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Job 20:13
68%
13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;
Prov 15:2
68%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 14:3
68%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Prov 26:22
68%
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Prov 26:7
68%
7The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Prov 26:9
67%
9[ As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Prov 17:4
67%
4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Prov 12:18
67%
18There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
Prov 10:21
67%
21The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
Prov 20:19
67%
19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Prov 17:20
67%
20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Prov 26:28
67%
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Prov 29:5
67%
5A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.
Gen 3:1
67%
1Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?
Prov 1:17
67%
17For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
Prov 16:28
67%
28A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Job 15:3
67%
3Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
Prov 19:1
67%
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Prov 10:23
67%
23It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.
Prov 11:12
67%
12He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Prov 26:4
67%
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.