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 describes the unproductive and exhausting efforts of those who lack fundamental understanding and practical wisdom. The labor of a fool leads only to weariness because they possess no clear direction or common sense, symbolized by their inability to even navigate to a basic, known destination like "the city." Their efforts are wasted and self-defeating, signifying an absence of applied intelligence for even the simplest tasks.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Context

Ecclesiastes 10 forms part of Qoheleth's reflection on practical wisdom and folly in daily life, especially concerning leadership and societal conduct. Chapter 9 concluded with an observation on how wisdom, though potent, is often overlooked, particularly by the poor wise man. Chapter 10 opens by comparing wisdom to a precious perfume and folly to a dead fly that spoils it, setting the stage for more contrasts. Verses leading up to 10:15 illustrate various ways folly manifests: the fool walks a wrong path (v. 3), foolish rulers cause destruction (v. 5-7), and foolish talk can bring trouble (v. 12-14). Within this discourse, verse 15 serves as a direct, pithy proverb exemplifying the absolute inefficiency and exhaustion resulting from profound lack of practical wisdom. The "city" in ancient times was a basic, familiar destination, often representing civilization, order, and resources, implying that a person who cannot navigate to it lacks fundamental competence in the world.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Word analysis

• The labor (עֲמַל֙ - 'amal): This Hebrew term signifies toil, hardship, trouble, or painful effort. Unlike a simple 'work' (מְלָאכָה - melachah), 'amal often carries the connotation of wearisome, unproductive, or grievous labor. In Ecclesiastes, it is frequently associated with the "vanity" (hevel) of human efforts that ultimately yield no lasting satisfaction or gain.

• of fools (כְּסִילִ֖ים - kesilim): This plural form refers to 'fools.' In biblical wisdom literature (especially Proverbs and Ecclesiastes), a 'fool' is not merely unintelligent but morally and practically deficient. They are resistant to instruction, perverse in their character, prone to self-destruction, and lack discretion. Their 'folly' (kesilut) is a chosen ignorance and stubborn refusal to embrace wisdom, often leading to destructive outcomes for themselves and others.

• wearies them (יְיַגְּעֶ֥נּוּ - yeyagg'enu): Derived from the root 'yaga,' meaning to grow weary, to toil to the point of exhaustion. It suggests an effort that drains one's strength without corresponding reward. The suffering inherent in the fool's labor is not only physical but mental and emotional, due to their perpetual failure to achieve productive ends. The direct object suffix "-nu" ("them") indicates that their own labor directly causes their exhaustion.

• for (כִּי֩ - ki): A conjunction indicating cause or reason, providing the explanation for why the fools are wearied.

• they do not know (לֹא־יָדְע֖וּ - lo'-yade'u): 'Yada' (to know) in Hebrew encompasses not just intellectual apprehension but also experiential knowledge, practical skill, and discernment. Thus, "they do not know" implies a profound lack of practical insight, basic common sense, and the ability to apply what little knowledge they might possess. It's an absence of "know-how."

• how to go (לָלֶ֥כֶת - laleḵet): The infinitive form of 'halakh,' 'to walk' or 'to go.' This phrase emphasizes a lack of direction, method, or even the simplest practical skill. It's not about complex knowledge but a rudimentary capacity to accomplish a straightforward task.

• to the city (אֶל־עִֽיר׃ - el-'ir): 'Ir' means 'city' or 'town.' Symbolically, "the city" represents a readily identifiable, common, and usually achievable destination. It could be a place of commerce, law, shelter, or simply a well-known landmark. Not knowing how to get to it underscores the extent of the fool's impracticality – if they cannot manage such a basic journey, how can they accomplish anything more complex in life? It suggests a total incapacity for planning, execution, or even understanding simple cause and effect related to personal progress.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The labor of fools wearies them": This highlights the self-inflicted burden of folly. The futility of their efforts doesn't just annoy them; it drains their very being, because their activity is fundamentally misguided and therefore unproductive. Their toil is its own punishment.
  • "for they do not know how to go to the city": This clause provides the reason for their wearying labor. The "city" acts as a metaphor for any obvious, desirable, or necessary goal that a person ought to be able to attain through basic competence. The fool's fundamental deficiency lies in this absolute lack of practical understanding for navigating the simplest paths of life. They engage in motion but lack direction, purpose, and the most rudimentary method.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Bonus section

The proverb can be interpreted on multiple levels:

• Practical Life: It speaks to inefficiency and misdirected effort in everyday tasks or professions. Someone might work incredibly hard, but without a clear objective, strategy, or basic competence, their "labor" just becomes "toil" that tires them out.
• Moral and Spiritual: The "city" can represent a place of moral order, a righteous way of living, or even the path to true blessedness. A person who persistently refuses wisdom or God's guidance finds themselves continually working against themselves, expending spiritual energy on fruitless endeavors, and becoming "weary" in their pursuit of meaning or satisfaction apart from the knowledge of God. Their life becomes a laborious struggle to nowhere.
• Leadership and Governance: In the broader context of Ecclesiastes 10, the inability of fools to "go to the city" can also be applied to incompetent leaders. Such leaders, lacking basic judgment or the ability to implement effective policies, exhaust their resources and people without achieving any constructive societal goal.

Ecclesiastes 10 15 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:15 vividly portrays the tragic futility of the fool's life. Their toil, rather than leading to progress or satisfaction, becomes an instrument of their own exhaustion. This weariness stems not from the difficulty of the task, but from an inherent, foundational ignorance—they "do not know how to go to the city." "The city" is the most basic, universally understood destination, representing a clear objective. The fool’s inability to reach it is not about physical incapacity but about a profound deficiency in common sense, discernment, and practical wisdom. They expend enormous energy without a coherent plan, purpose, or the most elementary understanding of how to achieve even straightforward goals. This verse encapsulates Qoheleth's broader message about the emptiness of life when detached from wisdom and divine guidance; without knowing "the way," all effort becomes a circuitous, energy-draining journey leading nowhere but profound weariness.