Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 10:3
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Preacher addresses readers in Ecclesiastes while contrasting the observable conduct of the wise and the foolish. He positions this observation between instructions on maintaining steady conduct during conflict.
The words — לִבּ֣/וֹ (li.B/o) means "his heart," and חָסֵ֑ר (cha.Ser) means "is lacking." These terms specify that the fool’s internal faculty is deficient while he moves through daily life.
The thread — This pattern of hidden deficiency becoming public appears in Proverbs 13:16, Proverbs 18:2, and Proverbs 18:6, where foolishness consistently manifests through speech and action.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that folly cannot remain concealed during routine conduct. It requires readers to evaluate their own paths against the visible evidence of their choices.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
- Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- Ecclesiastes 5:3 As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- 1 Peter 4:4 Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.