Ecclesiastes 10:1

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רוֹקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃

Transliteration

zəbûbê māwet yabʾîš yabbîaʿ šemen rôqēaḥ yāqār from ḥokmâ from kābôd siklût little

Grammar Details

• *zəbûbê māwet*: construct state, plural - flies of death/dead flies
• *yabʾîš*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - cause to stink/make putrid
• *yabbîaʿ*: hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine singular - cause to bubble up/ferment
• *šemen rôqēaḥ*: construct state - oil of perfumer/ointment of apothecary
• *yāqār*: adjective, masculine singular - precious/valuable
• *ḥokmâ*: feminine singular noun - wisdom
• *kābôd*: masculine singular noun - honor/glory
• *siklût*: feminine singular noun - folly/foolishness
• *mə'āṭ*: adjective - little/small amount

Word Meanings

• *zəbûbê māwet*: dead flies/deathly flies
• *yabʾîš*: makes stink/causes to putrefy
• *yabbîaʿ*: makes ferment/causes to bubble/sends forth
• *šemen rôqēaḥ*: perfumer's oil/apothecary's ointment
• *yāqār*: precious/weighty/valuable
• *siklût*: folly/foolishness/stupidity

Referenced Verses

• Matt 5:13-16 : 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
• Gal 2:12-14 : 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
• Exod 30:25 : 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
• Exod 30:34-35 : 34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
• 2 Chr 19:2 : 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
• Neh 6:13 : 13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
• Neh 13:26 : 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.