Ecclesiastes 10:20

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air 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

ℹ️

About this Translation

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Exod 22:28 : 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Acts 23:5 : 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
2 Kgs 6:12 : 12 And one of his servants said, None, 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 no 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, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
Luke 10:40 : 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 12:2-3 : 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luke 19:40 : 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Eccl 7:21-22
2 verses
72%
21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Exod 22:28
72%
28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Prov 30:10-11
2 verses
72%
10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Prov 26:2
72%
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Prov 23:4-5
2 verses
71%
4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Prov 16:10
70%
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Prov 27:14
69%
14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Prov 25:6-8
3 verses
69%
6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Eccl 10:16-17
2 verses
68%
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Eccl 8:2
68%
2I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
Eccl 8:4
68%
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Prov 20:2
68%
2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Prov 24:18-19
2 verses
67%
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Eccl 10:19
67%
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Prov 20:19-20
2 verses
67%
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Prov 25:10
67%
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Prov 24:21
67%
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Eccl 5:8
67%
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
Prov 10:22
67%
22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Jer 5:27
67%
27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
Prov 19:10
67%
10Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Prov 16:14
67%
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Job 34:18-19
2 verses
67%
18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
Eccl 10:4-6
3 verses
67%
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Prov 17:7
66%
7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Job 36:18-19
2 verses
66%
18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Prov 10:6
66%
6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Prov 10:19
66%
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Prov 27:2
66%
2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Eccl 5:2
66%
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Job 31:30
66%
30Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
Prov 13:8
66%
8The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
Isa 10:14
66%
14And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Ps 62:10
66%
10Trust{H8799)} not in oppression, and become not vain{H8799)} in robbery: if riches increase{H8799)}, set{H8799)} not your heart upon them.
Prov 28:20
66%
20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
Jer 17:11
66%
11As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
Job 29:10
65%
10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Jas 3:10
65%
10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.