Ecclesiastes 10:1 — Word Study
WLCזְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רוֹקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃
BSAAs deadmâveth [lifeless, without vitality] flieszᵉbûwb [a type of stinging insect] bringnâbaʻ▸ a stenchbâʼash▸ [an offensive odor, to smell bad] to the perfumer’srâqach [one who mixes, compounds] oilshemen [olive oil] so a littlemᵉʻaṭ [small in amount, few] follyçiklûwth [foolish, silly behavior] outweighsyâqâr [surpasses, has more influence] wisdomchokmâh [skill, prudence, good judgment] and honorkâbôwd [great esteem, glory]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| זְב֣וּבֵי | flies of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מָ֔וֶת | death | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יַבְאִ֥ישׁ | it causes to stink | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| יַבִּ֖יעַ | it ferments | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| שֶׁ֣מֶן | [the] oil of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רוֹקֵ֑חַ | a perfumer | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| יָקָ֛ר | [is] weighty | Adj |
| מֵחָכְמָ֥ה | more than wisdom | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| מִכָּב֖וֹד | more than honor | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| סִכְל֥וּת | folly | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| מְעָֽט׃ | a little | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. |
| KJV | 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. |
| ASV | Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. |
| YLT | Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly! |
| WEB | Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. |
| BBE | Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish. |
Where they part company is מְעָט — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a comparative clause, establishing a clear relationship between the two ideas.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּאַשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ecclesiastes 10:1
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Contrast of Wisdom and Follygenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:1 presents a vivid metaphor comparing dead flies to folly, illustrating how something seemingly small can have a significant negative impact. The surrounding verses continue to explore the themes of wisdom and foolishness, emphasizing the importance of discernment in life decisions. The Preacher uses these images to warn against the dangers of allowing folly to compromise one's wisdom and honor.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 30:34–35 | The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures, |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 19:2 | Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. |
| 3 | Nehemiah 6:13 | He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me. |
| 4 | Nehemiah 13:26 | Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. |
| 5 | Matthew 5:13–16 | You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סִכְלוּת, sikh.Lutgenerated
The word סִכְלוּת (sikhluwth) refers to folly or foolishness, derived from a root suggesting silliness. It captures the essence of unwise behavior that can lead to negative consequences, as seen in the broader context of Ecclesiastes.
In this verse, folly is contrasted with wisdom and honor, indicating that even a small amount of foolishness can overshadow significant wisdom and respect. The parsing as a feminine singular noun emphasizes its conceptual nature, highlighting how folly can manifest in various forms of unwise actions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a main clause with the finite verb יַבְאִ֥ישׁ, it causes to stink, followed by a comparative clause that elaborates on the relationship between folly and wisdom. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between the two ideas presented.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the negative impact of folly, with the subject זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת (flies of death) leading into the action of causing a stench, which serves to highlight the seriousness of the comparison being made.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זְבוּב as μυῖαι (flies), maintaining the imagery of the original Hebrew. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew term, preserving the metaphor's impact.
For סִכְלוּת, the LXX uses ἀφροσύνης (folly), which carries a similar connotation of foolishness, emphasizing the negative consequences of such behavior.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 10:1 compares dead flies to folly, showing that just as dead flies ruin perfume, a little folly can ruin wisdom and honor. This verse warns us about the dangers of foolish behavior, even in small amounts.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The comparison illustrates how even a small amount of folly can spoil something valuable, like wisdom and honor, similar to how dead flies can ruin a good perfume.
Folly is described as outweighing wisdom to emphasize that foolish actions or decisions can have a greater negative impact than the positive influence of wisdom.
This verse encourages us to be mindful of our actions and decisions, reminding us that even minor foolishness can lead to significant consequences.
The perfumer's oil symbolizes something valuable and precious, and the dead flies represent how easily that value can be compromised by folly.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life might I be allowing small amounts of folly to compromise my wisdom?
- How can I cultivate wisdom in my daily decisions to avoid the pitfalls of foolishness?
- What are some practical steps I can take to ensure that my actions reflect wisdom and honor?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of the relationship between folly and wisdom?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators reflect on this verse to illustrate the dangers of folly in relation to wisdom, using vivid imagery to convey their insights.
Moreover, flies falling into myrrh, and suffocated therein, make both the appearance of that pleasant ointment and the anointing therewith an unseemly thing; and to be mindful of wisdom and of folly together is in no way proper.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
Flies falling into perfume, and drowning, make the appearance and use of that pleasant oil unseemly; so, too, it is improper to have both wisdom and foolishness together in one’s mind.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
These flies bring death as well as life. For example there is a divinized fly about which Elijah has said, “Is there no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of the fly,Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 10:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour,.... Such, as Jarchi observes, are in the winter season, which are weak and near to death, and get into precious
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDead 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. Dead flies - literally, flies of death.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCHAPTER 10 Observations on wisdom and folly, . Of rulers, . Of wrong and injustice, . Of talkativeness, imprudence, and its mischiefs, . Kings hurtful and desirable, ,17. Of sloth, . Feasts, . The king must not be cursed, . Dead flies falling into it, and abiding and being putrefied in it, especially in those countries, where there were more filthy and venomous flies, and where the ointments were more pure, and where the air was more hot, than in these parts. So doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour; which comes to pass, partly because all the actions, and consequently the follies, of such men are most diligently observed, and soonest discerned, and tossed…
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 10:1 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.Ver. 1. Dead flies cause the ointment, &c.] The Preacher had said that "one sinner destroys much good"; here he affirms the same of "one sin"; be it but a small sin, a peccadillo, no bigger than a few "dead flies" fallen into a pot of sweet odours, it is of that stinking nature, that it stains a good man’ s esteem, and blows his reputation. A great many flies may fall into a tarbox, and no hurt done. A small spot is soon seen in a swan, not so in a swine. Fine lawn is sooner and deeper stained than coarse canvas. A city…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 10 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleCHAPTER X Observations on wisdom and folly, 1-3. Concerning right conduct towards rulers, 4. Merit depressed, and worthlessness exalted, 5-7. Of him who digs a pit and removes a landmark, 8, 9. The use of wisdom and experience, 10. Of the babbler and the fool, 11-15. The infant king, 16. The well-regulated court, 17. Of slothfulness, 18. Of feasting, 19. Speak not evil of the king, 20. NOTES ON CHAP. X Verse 1. Dead flies] Any putrefaction spoils perfume; and so a foolish act ruins the character of him who has the reputation of being wise and good. Alas! alas! in an unguarded moment how many have tarnished the reputation which they were many years in acquiring! Hence, no man can be said to…
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary] The division of the chapters obscures the connexion. The maxim now before us is but the figurative expression of the fact stated, without a parable, in the last verse of ch. 9. The “dead flies” are, in the Hebrew, “flies of death,” probably, i.e. poisonous, or stinging flies of the dung-fly, or carrion-fly type. Such insects, finding their way into a vase of precious ointment, would turn its fragrance into a fœtid odour. The work of an “apothecary” or manufacturer of unguents was one held in honour in Jerusalem, and the guilds to which they belonged had a special street or bazaar. Few similitudes could describe more vividly the tainting…
Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 10 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThis verse is by its meaning so closely connected with Ecclesiastes 9:18 that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate. Apothecary - Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes (compare Exodus 30:25).
Read Albert Barnes on Ecclesiastes 10 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible1. Ointment of the apothecary — Better, of the perfumer; that is, perfumed ointment. This is in the form of a proverb, and there is one in the Arabic to the same effect. In sultry climates this result might easily be produced.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ecclesiastes 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
Tyndale line
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.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
Dead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
Strictly literal
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!
Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume || To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
From the Latin
Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Simplified
Dead flies can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all words matching in the Hebrew and Greek versions. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the metaphor and its implications across these ancient texts.
זְב֣וּבֵי מָ֔וֶת יַבְאִ֥ישׁ יַבִּ֖יעַ שֶׁ֣מֶן רוֹקֵ֑חַ יָקָ֛ר מֵחָכְמָ֥ה מִכָּב֖וֹד סִכְל֥וּת מְעָֽט׃
11 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ecclesiastes 10:1
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זְבוּב (zbuwb) means 'fly,' specifically referring to a type that may sting. It is derived from an unused root suggesting the action of flitting. The term appears in the Old Testament, notably in Ecclesiastes 10:1, where it refers to dead flies.
זְבוּב n.m. fly (as moving to and fro in the air?);—lit. only Ec 10:1 i.e. dead flies
ref
H2070 זְבוּב fly (as moving to and fro in the air?)
2070 zbuwb zeb-oob'
from an unused root (meaning to flit); a fly (especially one
of a stinging nature):--fly.
זְבוּב (ze.vuv) — fly.
fly
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
death, opp. life
death by violence
state of death or place of death
base
H4194 מָ֫וֶת death
4194 maveth maw'-veth
from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,
their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,
ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREW for 04191
מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.
1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
1a) death
1b) death by violence (as a penalty)
1c) state of death, place of death
Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.
בָּאַשׁ (ba'ash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stink or have a bad smell. It can refer literally to emitting a foul odor or figuratively to becoming morally offensive or odious. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, which express different nuances of the root meaning.
בָּאַשׁ vb. have a bad smell, stink
Qal stink
Niph. only fig. make oneself odious, become odious
Hiph.
emit a stinking odour
cause to stink
Hithp. they had made thmselves odious
base
H887 בָּאַשׁ have a bad smell, stink .stink
. only fig. make oneself odious, become odious
. . emit a stinking odour
. cause to stink
. they had made thmselves odious
887 ba'ash baw-ash'
a primitive root; to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive
morally:--(make to) be abhorred (had in abomination,
loathsome, odious), (cause a, make to) stink(-ing savour), X
utterly.
בָּאַשׁ (ba.ash) — to stink.
1) to have a bad smell, stink, smell bad
1a) (Qal) to stink, smell bad
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to become odious
1b2) to make oneself odious
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stink, emit a stinking odour
1c2) to cause to stink
1c3) of wickedness (fig.)
1d) (Hithpael) to make oneself odious
2) (TWOT) to abhor
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
נָבַע (naba`) is a primitive root meaning to gush forth or bubble up. It encompasses actions like flowing, pouring out, and emitting, with uses in both literal and figurative contexts, including the utterance of words. The entries indicate that it can also refer to producing a foul odor, as in belching forth.
[נָבַע] vb. flow, spring, bubble up, poet. and late
Qal a flowing wady
Hiph. pour out, emit, cause to bubble, belch forth
base
H5042 נָבַע
5042 naba` naw-bah'
a primitive root; to gush forth; figuratively, to utter (good
or bad words); specifically, to emit (a foul odor):--belch
out, flowing, pour out, send forth, utter (abundantly).
נָבַע (na.va) — to bubble.
1) to flow, pour out, pour, gush forth, spring, bubble up, ferment
1a) (Qal) to flow
1b)(Hiphil) to pour out, emit, cause to bubble, belch forth
1b1) to pour out
1b2) to cause to bubble, ferment
1b3) to pour forth, emit, belch forth
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.
שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil
base
H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil
8081 shemen sheh'-men
from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,
often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat
(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.
see HEBREW for 08080
שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.
1) fat, oil
1a) fat, fatness
1b) oil, olive oil
1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent
1b2) for anointing
1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רָקַח (raqach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to mix or compound, particularly in reference to oils and ointments. It can denote both the action of mixing and the role of a mixer or perfumer. The entries suggest various forms of the verb, including Qal, Pual, and Hiphil, indicating different usages in context.
[רָקַח] vb. mix, or compound oil, ointment (perh. denom.);—
Qal mix, compound; pt. as subst. compounders of the ointment; as a professional name, mixer, perfumer
Pu. mixed as ointment
Hiph. spice the spicing (?), i.e. spice (the meat) well, but very dub.
base
H7543 רָקַח
7543 raqach raw-kakh'
a primitive root; to perfume:--apothecary, compound, make
(ointment), prepare, spice.
רָקַח (ra.qach) — to mix.
1) to mix, compound
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to mix, compound
1a2) compounder, mixer, perfumer (participle) (subst)
1b) (Pual) mixed (participle)
1c) (Hiphil) to mix
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
יָקָר (yaqar) means precious, rare, or splendid, and can refer to something valuable or weighty. It encompasses meanings like costly, excellent, and glorious, often used to describe precious stones or jewels. The word is built from a root that implies value, and it appears in contexts highlighting worth or reputation.
יָקָר adj. precious, rare, splendid, weighty
base
H3368 יָקָר precious, rare, splendid, weighty
3368 yaqar yaw-kawr'
from 3365; valuable (obj. or subj.): -brightness, clear,
costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious,
reputation.
see HEBREW for 03365
יָקָר (ya.qar) — precious.
1) valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid
1a) precious
1a1) costly
1a2) precious, highly valued
1a3) precious stones or jewels
1b) rare
1c) glorious, splendid
1d) weighty, influential
Adj — AdjHAamsa
חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.
חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom
skill in war
wisdom, in administration
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
wisdom, ethical and religious
base
H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war
. wisdom, in administration
. shrewdness, wisdom
. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
. wisdom, ethical and religious
2451 chokmah khok-maw'
from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,
wisely, wit.
see HEBREW for 02449
חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom
1a) skill (in war)
1b) wisdom (in administration)
1c) shrewdness, wisdom
1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
wiz'-dum:
1. Linguistic
2. History
3. Religious Basis
4. Ideals
5. Teaching of Christ
6. Remainder of the New Testament
(1) James
(2) Paul
7. Hypostasis
LITERATURE
1. Linguistic:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…
כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.
כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory
abundance, riches
honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
honour, dignity of position
honour, reputation, of character
my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
base
H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches
. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
. honour, dignity of position
. honour, reputation, of character
. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
3519 kabowd kaw-bode'
rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but
only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
see HEBREW for 03513
כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
סִכְלוּת (sikluwth) means folly or foolishness. It is derived from a root that suggests silliness. The term appears in Ecclesiastes 1:17, where it conveys a sense of foolishness. Different entries confirm this meaning without significant disagreement.
סִכְלוּת, שִׂכְלוּת n.f. folly
base
H5531a סִכְלוּת, שִׂכְלוּת folly H5531b סִכְלוּת, שִׂכְלוּת folly
5531 cikluwth sik-looth'
or sikluwth (Eccl. 1:17) {sik-looth'}; from 5528;
silliness:--folly, foolishness.
see HEBREW for 05528
שִׂכְלוּת (sikh.lut) — folly.
folly, foolishness
Another spelling of sikh.lut (סִכְלוּת "folly" H5531B)
סִכְלוּת (sikh.lut) — folly.
folly, foolishness
Also means: sikh.lut (שִׂכְלוּת "folly" H5531A)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
fol'-i.
See FOOL.
מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.
מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few
base
H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few
4592 m`at meh-at'
or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often
adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),
lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,
soon, X very.
see HEBREW for 04591
מְעַט (me.at) — little.
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Adj — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa