Ecclesiastes 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.”

"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." - Ecclesiastes 10:1
Commentary

What does Ecclesiastes 10:1 mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:1 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads, "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." This verse is found in the book of Ecclesiastes…

Read full commentaryDevotional

The Affects of Folly: Guarding Our Reputation with Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) states, "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." At first glance, this verse reveals a somewhat peculiar metaphor, yet within it lies a…

Read devotionalPrayer

A Prayer for Wisdom Amidst Folly

Heavenly Father, We come before You today, humbled by Your greatness and aware of our own vulnerabilities. In Your Word, You remind us through Ecclesiastes 10:1, "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is…

Read prayer

Artwork for Ecclesiastes 10:1

See all →
Ecclesiastes 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."
Ecclesiastes 1:10 - "Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."
Ecclesiastes 10:10 - "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct."
Ecclesiastes 10:6 - "Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place."
Ecclesiastes 10:11 - "Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better."
Ecclesiastes 10:18 - "¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."
Ecclesiastes 10:19 - "¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things."
Ecclesiastes 10:13 - "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - "A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left."
Ecclesiastes 10:12 - "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."
ecclesiastes 12:1
ecclesiastes 12:1
Ecclesiastes 10:5 - "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"
Ecclesiastes 12:10 - "The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth."
Ecclesiastes 10:15 - "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city."
Ecclesiastes 10:7 - "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."
Ecclesiastes 3:10 - "I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it."
Ecclesiastes 1:11
ecclesiastes 12:1
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
Ecclesiastes 10:16 - "¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!"
Ecclesiastes 10:9 - "Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby."
Ecclesiastes 10:8 - "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."
Ecclesiastes 1:1 - "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem."
ecclesiastes 12:1-8
Ecclesiastes 10:4 - "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences."
"Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us." - Ecclesiastes 1:10
ecclesiastes 12:1-8