Ecclesiastes 10:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

גַּ֣ם בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ מֶ֚לֶךְ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֔ל וּבְחַדְרֵי֙ מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֖ל עָשִׁ֑יר כִּ֣י ע֤וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ יוֹלִ֣יךְ אֶת־הַקּ֔וֹל וּבַ֥עַל כְּנָפַ֖יִם יַגֵּ֥יד דָּבָֽר׃

Transliteration

gam in maddāʿăkā melek not təqallēl and in ḥadrê miškābəkā not təqallēl ʿāšîr for ʿôp haššāmayim yôlîk ʾet-haqqôl and baʿal kənāpayim yaggêd dābār

Grammar Details

• *gam*: adverb - also/even
• *bə-maddāʿăkā*: preposition + masculine singular noun with 2nd masculine singular suffix - in your thought
• *melek*: masculine singular noun - king
• *ʾal-təqallēl*: negative particle + piel jussive 2nd masculine singular - do not curse
• *û-bə-ḥadrê*: conjunction + preposition + masculine plural construct - and in chambers of
• *miškābəkā*: masculine singular noun with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your bed
• *ʿāšîr*: masculine singular adjective - rich
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *ʿôp*: masculine singular construct - bird of
• *haššāmayim*: definite article + masculine plural noun - the heavens
• *yôlîk*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - will carry
• *ʾet-haqqôl*: direct object marker + definite article + masculine singular noun - the voice/sound
• *û-baʿal*: conjunction + masculine singular construct - and master/owner of
• *kənāpayim*: feminine dual noun - wings
• *yaggêd*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - will tell
• *dābār*: masculine singular noun - word/matter

Word Meanings

• *maddāʿăkā*: your thought/your knowledge/your mind
• *melek*: king/ruler/sovereign
• *təqallēl*: curse/revile/speak evil of
• *ḥadrê miškābəkā*: chambers of your bed/your bedroom/private quarters
• *ʿāšîr*: rich man/wealthy person
• *ʿôp haššāmayim*: bird of the heavens/bird of the air
• *yôlîk*: will carry/will transport/will convey
• *haqqôl*: the voice/the sound/the words
• *baʿal kənāpayim*: owner of wings/winged creature
• *yaggêd*: will tell/will report/will inform
• *dābār*: word/matter/thing

Referenced Verses

• Exod 22:28 : 28 Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.
• Acts 23:5 : 5 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
• 2 Kgs 6:12 : 12 And one of his servants said, Nay, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
• Eccl 7:21-22 : 21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; 22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
• Isa 8:21 : 21 And they shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:
• Luke 10:40 : 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
• Luke 12:2-3 : 2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 3 Wherefore {G3739} whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
• Luke 19:40 : 40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.