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Amplified Bible

Ecclesiastes 10:11

If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fool;   Serpent;   Slander;   Speaking;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Serpents;   Slander;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Charmers;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Snake;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Charmer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adder;   Serpent;   Serpent Charming;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Charm;   Poetry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ecclesiastes;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Babbler;   Serpent;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Enchantments;   Serpent;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amulet;   Babbler;   Enchantment;   Magic;   Serpent;   Serpent-Charming;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Calumny;   Providence;   Serpent;   Witchcraft;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for August 18;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If the snake bites before it is charmed,then there is no advantage for the charmer.
Hebrew Names Version
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
King James Version
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
English Standard Version
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
New American Standard Bible
If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer.
New Century Version
If a snake bites the tamer before it is tamed, what good is the tamer?
World English Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
Legacy Standard Bible
If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no advantage for the charmer.
Berean Standard Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Contemporary English Version
The power to charm a snake does you no good if it bites you anyway.
Complete Jewish Bible
If a snake bites before it is charmed, the snake-charmer has no advantage.
Darby Translation
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
Easy-to-Read Version
Someone might know how to control snakes. But that skill is useless if a snake bites when that person is not around.
George Lamsa Translation
If the serpent bites without being charmed; then in vain is a charmer.
Good News Translation
Knowing how to charm a snake is of no use if you let the snake bite first.
Lexham English Bible
If the snake bites before the charming, the snake charmer will not succeed.
Literal Translation
If the snake will bite without charming, then there is no advantage to a master of tongue.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A babler of his tonge is no better, then a serpent that styngeth without hyssynge.
American Standard Version
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Bible in Basic English
If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
King James Version (1611)
Surely the serpent will bite without inchauntment, and a babbler is no better.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
A backbiter is no better then a serpent that stingeth without hissing.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If a serpent bite when there is no charmer’s whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
English Revised Version
If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If a serpent bitith, it bitith in silence; he that bacbitith priueli, hath no thing lesse than it.
Update Bible Version
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage to the master of the tongue.
Webster's Bible Translation
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
New English Translation
If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.
New King James Version
A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.
New Living Translation
If a snake bites before you charm it, what's the use of being a snake charmer?
New Life Bible
If the snake bites before it is put under a man's power, it will not be of help to the man who would have power over it.
New Revised Standard
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
Revised Standard Version
If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
Young's Literal Translation
If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
THE MESSAGE
If the snake bites before it's been charmed, What's the point in then sending for the charmer?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

Contextual Overview

4If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler— 6folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places. 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground. 8He who digs a pit [for others] may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a [stone] wall. 9He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]. 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the serpent: Psalms 58:4, Psalms 58:5, Jeremiah 8:17

a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue, Psalms 52:2, Psalms 64:3, Proverbs 18:21, James 3:6

Reciprocal: Proverbs 18:7 - his destruction James 3:8 - full

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
These are the records of the generations (descendants) of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and the sons born to them after the flood:
Genesis 10:10
The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar [in Babylonia].
Numbers 24:22
"Nevertheless the Kenites will be consumed. How long will Asshur (Assyria) keep you (Israel) captive?"
Numbers 24:24
"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and Eber; So they (the victors) also will come to destruction."
2 Kings 19:36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.
Ezra 4:2
they came to Zerubbabel [who was now governor] and to the heads of the fathers' households and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God [and worship] just as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here."
Psalms 83:8
Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm [of strength] to them. Selah.
Isaiah 37:37
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned and lived at Nineveh.
Ezekiel 27:23
"Haran and Canneh and Eden [in Mesopotamia], the merchants of Sheba [on the Euphrates], Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.
Ezekiel 32:22
"Assyria is there with all her warriors; their graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment,.... See Jeremiah 8:17. Or rather, "without a whisper" t; without hissing, or any noise, giving no warning at all: so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "in silence"; some serpents bite, others sting, some both; see

Proverbs 23:32; some hiss, others not, as here;

and a babbler is no better; a whisperer, a backbiter, a busy tattling body, that goes from house to house, and, in a private manner, speaks evil of civil governments, of ministers of the word, and of other persons; and; in a secret way, defames men, and detracts from their characters: such an one is like a venomous viper, a poisonous serpent or adder; and there is no more guarding against him than against such a creature that bites secretly.

t בלא לחש "absque susurro", Pagniuus; "absque sibilo", Tigurine version.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather: “If a serpent without enchantment (i. e., not being enchanted) bites, then there is no advantage to the charmer”: i. e., if the charmer is unwisely slack in exercising his craft, he will be bitten like other people. See Psalms 58:4 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 10:11. The serpent will bite without enchantment — בלא לחש belo lachash, without hissing. As a snake may bite before it hiss, so also will the babbler, talkative person, or calumniator. Without directly speaking evil, he insinuates, by innuendoes, things injurious to the reputation of his neighbour. Gif the eddir bite in silence, noyhing lasse than he hath that privily backbiteth. - Old MS. Bible. "A babbler of his tongue is no better than a serpent that styngeth without hyssynge." - COVERDALE. The moral of this saying is simply this: A calumniator is as dangerous as a poisonous serpent; and from the envenomed tongue of slander and detraction no man is safe. The comparing the serpent, נחש nachash, to a babbler, has something singular in it. I have already supposed that the creature mentioned, Genesis 3:1, was of the genus simia. This has been ridiculed, but not disproved.


 
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