Ecclesiastes 10:14

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהַסָּכָ֖ל יַרְבֶּ֣ה דְבָרִ֑ים לֹא־יֵדַ֤ע הָאָדָם֙ מַה־שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יִֽהְיֶה֙ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו מִ֖י יַגִּ֥יד לֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

wə-hassākāl yarbeh dəbārîm; not yēdaʿ hāʾādām what še-yihyeh and which yihyeh from after him who yaggîd to him

Grammar Details

*wə-hassākāl*: conjunction + definite article + masculine singular noun - and the fool
*yarbeh*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - multiplies/increases
*dəbārîm*: masculine plural noun - words
*lōʾ-yēdaʿ*: negative particle + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - does not know
*hāʾādām*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the man
*mah-še-yihyeh*: interrogative + relative particle + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - what will be
*wa-ʾăšer*: conjunction + relative particle - and that which
*yihyeh*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - will be
*mē-ʾaḥărāyw*: preposition + preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - from after him
*mî*: interrogative pronoun - who
*yaggîd*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - will tell
*lô*: preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - to him

Word Meanings

*hassākāl*: the fool/the foolish one
*yarbeh*: multiplies/increases/uses many
*dəbārîm*: words/speeches/sayings
*yēdaʿ*: knows/understands
*hāʾādām*: the man/mankind/person
*yihyeh*: will be/shall happen/will become
*mē-ʾaḥărāyw*: after him/behind him/following him
*yaggîd*: will tell/can declare/will make known

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

Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Eccl 3:22 : 22 Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Eccl 5:3 : 3 For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.
Eccl 6:12 : 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 8:7 : 7 for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Jas 4:13-14 : 13 Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: 14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. {G1063} What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Job 34:37 : 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
Job 35:16 : 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.
Prov 10:19 : 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

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
82%
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 10:15
80%
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Eccl 10:3
78%
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
Prov 29:11
78%
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
Eccl 2:14-16
3 verses
76%
14The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
Eccl 2:19
76%
19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Prov 29:20
76%
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Eccl 8:7
76%
7for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Prov 13:16
75%
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
Ps 92:6
75%
6A brutish man knoweth not; Neither doth a fool understand this:
Prov 10:14
75%
14Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
Prov 23:9
75%
9Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Eccl 5:3
75%
3For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.
Prov 14:7-8
2 verses
75%
7Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
Eccl 6:8
74%
8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?
Prov 12:23
74%
23A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Prov 18:2
74%
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
Prov 14:24
74%
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
Prov 17:28
74%
28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
Prov 15:14
74%
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
Prov 14:16
73%
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
Prov 26:4-5
2 verses
73%
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Prov 10:23
73%
23It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.
Prov 14:33
73%
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
Prov 10:18-19
2 verses
73%
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 24:7
72%
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Prov 15:2
72%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 26:11-12
2 verses
72%
11As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Prov 17:16
72%
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Eccl 7:6
72%
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Prov 19:3
72%
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
Prov 10:8
72%
8The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 17:24
72%
24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Eccl 6:12
72%
12For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Prov 29:9
72%
9If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
Prov 12:15
72%
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
Prov 14:3
72%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Prov 15:21
72%
21Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Ps 49:10
72%
10For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.
Prov 17:21
72%
21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Prov 18:6-7
2 verses
72%
6A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Prov 30:22
71%
22For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;