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Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024
the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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Updated Bible Version

Ecclesiastes 10:11

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage to the master of the tongue.

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

Legacy Standard Bible
If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no advantage for the charmer.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
A backbiter is no better then a serpent that stingeth without hissing.
Darby Translation
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
New King James Version
A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.
Literal Translation
If the snake will bite without charming, then there is no advantage to a master of tongue.
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.
World English Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
King James Version (1611)
Surely the serpent will bite without inchauntment, and a babbler is no better.
King James Version
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A babler of his tonge is no better, then a serpent that styngeth without hyssynge.
THE MESSAGE
If the snake bites before it's been charmed, What's the point in then sending for the charmer?
Amplified Bible
If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.
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.
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.
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
George Lamsa Translation
If the serpent bites without being charmed; then in vain is a charmer.
Hebrew Names Version
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
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.
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.
Berean Standard Bible
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
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.
Lexham English Bible
If the snake bites before the charming, the snake charmer will not succeed.
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?
Good News Translation
Knowing how to charm a snake is of no use if you let the snake bite first.
Christian Standard Bible®
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If a serpent bitith, it bitith in silence; he that bacbitith priueli, hath no thing lesse than it.
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.

Contextual Overview

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness allays great offenses. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth. 8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoever cuts out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that splits wood is endangered thereby. 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then he must use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage to the master of the tongue.

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
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, [namely], of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.
Genesis 10:10
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, and Accad-all of them in the land of Shinar.
Numbers 24:22
Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry you away captive.
Numbers 24:24
Those who go out from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; And he also will perish forever.
2 Kings 19:36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
Ezra 4:2
then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers' [houses], and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.
Psalms 83:8
Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the sons of Lot. Selah.
Isaiah 37:37
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
Ezekiel 27:23
Haran and Canneh and Eden, the traffickers of Sheba, Asshur [and] Chilmad, were your traffickers.
Ezekiel 32:22
Asshur is there and all her company; their graves are round about them; all of them 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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