Ecclesiastes 10 15

Ecclesiastes 10:15 kjv

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 nkjv

The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

Ecclesiastes 10:15 niv

The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 esv

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Ecclesiastes 10:15 nlt

Fools are so exhausted by a little work
that they can't even find their way home.

Ecclesiastes 10 verses

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 10:15 succinctly describes the futility and self-inflicted burden of those who lack wisdom. Despite expending significant effort and toil, their "labor" ultimately exhausts them without producing a valuable outcome. This is attributed to their fundamental deficiency in practical judgment and common sense, which is vividly illustrated by their inability to navigate even the most basic of tasks: finding their way to "the city." Their persistent but misguided endeavors lead to nothing but weariness and stagnation.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Context

Ecclesiastes 10:15 resides within a chapter where Koheleth extensively contrasts the practical advantages of wisdom with the detrimental effects of folly in various aspects of life, including governance, social interaction, and personal labor. The immediate context of chapter 10 begins by lamenting how a "little folly" can mar reputation and impact greatly (Ecc 10:1), and then contrasts the heart of a wise man which inclines him to the right (prudence) with the heart of a fool to the left (error) (Ecc 10:2-3). The Preacher continues to illustrate instances of folly through the incompetence of leaders, the hazards of careless work, and the ruinous, foolish speech that brings disaster. This verse serves as a powerful concluding metaphor for this section, underscoring the absolute futility and self-destructive nature of a fool's existence. Culturally, navigating to a "city" was a common and essential journey for commerce, safety, and community, thus implying that even the most fundamental life tasks become insurmountable burdens for those devoid of basic sense.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Word analysis

• The labor: The Hebrew word is עָמָל ('amal), referring to strenuous toil, trouble, distress, or burdensome effort. It often carries the implication of exertion that is painful or ultimately futile, tying into the biblical theme of human struggle since the Fall (Gen 3:17-19). Here, it specifically means work that exhausts rather than accomplishes.

• of fools: The Hebrew term is כְּסִילִים (kᵉsîlîm), denoting individuals who are not simply unintelligent, but are morally and practically resistant to wisdom and instruction. They are self-willed, obstinate in error, and fundamentally misunderstand truth, making poor judgments out of ingrained stubbornness rather than simple ignorance.

• wearies them: The verb is תְּיַגְּעֶנּוּ (tĕyaggĕʿennû), which means "it causes weariness," "it exhausts," or "it oppresses." This directly attributes their exhaustion to their own efforts. Their "labor" ('amal) is presented as the direct agent that drains their strength and energy without fruitful outcome.

• for they know not: Hebrew: כִּי לֹא־יָדְעוּ (kî lōʾ- yādᵉʿû). kî (for) introduces the causal explanation. lōʾ- yādᵉʿû translates as "they do not know" or "they have not understood." This highlights a fundamental deficiency in practical knowledge, understanding, or common sense – an inability to grasp basic directions or necessary steps.

• how to go: Hebrew: לָלֶכֶת (lālěḵeṯ), signifying "to walk," "to journey," or "to proceed." It speaks to the basic act of directional movement or progress, underscoring their inability to formulate a simple plan or strategy.

• to the city: Hebrew: אֶל־עִיר (ʾel-ʿîr). "The city" is presented as a universally recognizable, obvious destination. In the ancient world, a city represented order, civilization, community, resources, and often safety. The inability to reach such a fundamental, publicly known objective demonstrates an extreme level of impracticality and lack of basic orientation or purpose.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The labor of fools wearies them": This phrase underlines the ironic and self-defeating nature of foolish effort. Their amal (burdensome toil) doesn't achieve productive results, but merely circulates in futility, ultimately serving only to deplete their own energy and spirit. Their very exertion becomes a source of affliction.
  • "for they know not how to go to the city": This provides the reason for their ceaseless, exhausting, and fruitless labor. "The city" serves as a metaphor for any basic, attainable objective. Their failure to even approach such a simple, visible goal illustrates a profound and pervasive deficit in common sense, basic planning, or the ability to grasp straightforward instructions needed for successful living.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Bonus section

The metaphorical "city" in Ecclesiastes 10:15 is not just a physical location but represents any common, accessible, and desirable objective or destination that demands basic sense to reach. This highlights a person who is intellectually or spiritually adrift, incapable of finding common ground, establishing productive relationships, or discerning clear moral paths. In a broader spiritual sense, the inability to find "the way" can be connected to the human condition outside of divine guidance; people labor fruitlessly, trying to construct meaning or happiness in life (their "city"), yet continually fall short because they lack the spiritual wisdom (knowledge of the divine path, a relationship with God) that gives direction and ultimate purpose to all effort. This makes the verse a stark commentary on lives spent in self-directed but ultimately futile endeavors, reflecting the core theme of vanity ("hebel") throughout Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:15 succinctly captures a profound truth about human endeavor: effort devoid of wisdom is not just inefficient, but actively burdensome and self-destructive. The "labor of fools" ('amal) is characterized not by fruitful productivity but by an exhausting cycle of pointless striving. Koheleth vividly illustrates this by noting their inability "to go to the city." This isn't a complex or abstract goal but a universally understood, easily navigable destination. The fool's failure here reveals a complete absence of fundamental, practical understanding – whether it's the ability to plan, discern directions, or ask for guidance. Their toil consumes their strength without yielding any tangible progress, trapping them in a cycle of exertion that only leads to weariness, never to achievement. This verse powerfully underscores that true success is not merely a matter of effort, but of effort intelligently and wisely directed.

• Example 1: A person consistently starts new projects without prior research or planning, investing time and energy, only to abandon them midway because they didn't know the basic steps for completion, leading to constant fatigue and no accomplished goals.
• Example 2: An individual continually struggles with personal finances, working long hours, but never understands basic budgeting or debt management principles, thus feeling perpetually exhausted by their money problems despite their effort.