Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 10:9
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Teacher addresses a general audience in Ecclesiastes 10, listing practical proverbs about the hidden risks of daily labor.
The words — The text uses מַסִּיעַ (ma.si.a') for one who quarries and בּוֹקֵעַ (bo.Ke.a') for one who cleaves, paired with יֵעָצֵב (ye.a.tzev) for being hurt and יִסָּכֶן (yi.Sa.khen) for being endangered.
The thread — This warning about occupational hazard runs alongside the pit-digging and wall-breaching dangers in Ecclesiastes 10:8 and the dull-axe principle in Ecclesiastes 10:10.
Why it lands — The text states that manual labor carries inherent physical risks, asking the reader to acknowledge the vulnerability built into everyday work and the necessity of practical skill.
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
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.