Ecclesiastes 10 16

Ecclesiastes 10:16 kjv

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

Ecclesiastes 10:16 nkjv

Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!

Ecclesiastes 10:16 niv

Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning.

Ecclesiastes 10:16 esv

Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!

Ecclesiastes 10:16 nlt

What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant,
the land whose leaders feast in the morning.

Ecclesiastes 10 verses

Ecclesiastes 10 16 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 10:16 expresses a profound lament or pronouncement of woe upon a nation when its supreme leader lacks maturity, wisdom, and experience, acting like a mere "child." This dire situation is compounded when those in positions of high authority, the princes, abandon their responsibilities and instead engage in excessive, early morning revelry, prioritizing self-indulgence over their duty to govern and serve the people. The verse highlights a state of severe misrule and moral decay among leadership, which inevitably leads to national distress and decline.

Ecclesiastes 10 16 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 10 is part of Qoheleth's broader discourse on wisdom and folly, particularly as they manifest in daily life, work, and leadership. The chapter opens by reiterating the precariousness of wisdom (Eccl 10:1-3) and then moves into specific examples of foolishness in high places, often contrasting them with the wise. Verses 4-11 highlight how foolish decisions and misplaced trust can undermine stability and prosperity, while wisdom, though subtle, yields greater results. Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 specifically focuses on the character of national leadership and its profound impact on the state of the land and its people. Verse 16 paints a picture of societal decay brought about by an immature, self-indulgent ruling class, directly contrasting it with the blessed condition described in verse 17, where the king is of noble character and officials act responsibly. Historically, ancient Near Eastern societies, including Israel, were highly dependent on strong, just leadership for stability and well-being. A "child king" or indulgent princes would signal national vulnerability and decline, potentially referencing situations where rulers came to power too young (e.g., Manasseh or Amon in Judah), or those who, even as adults, showed immaturity in governance or indulged in excessive lifestyles rather than ruling with prudence and justice.

Ecclesiastes 10 16 Word analysis

• Woe: The Hebrew term is 'ôy (אוֹי), an interjection expressing lamentation, grief, pain, or a curse. It signals deep sorrow or a dreadful consequence. Its usage here is not just a lament, but a solemn warning of divine judgment or inevitable misfortune. It is a pronouncement of distress upon the land itself, indicating that the consequences of such leadership affect the entire nation.
• to you, O land: The word for 'land' is 'erets (אֶרֶץ). This doesn't merely mean the physical soil but signifies the nation as a whole—its people, its territory, its socio-political entity. The "woe" is for the entire community inhabiting that land, implying that the failures of leadership directly bring suffering upon the populace.
• when your king is a child:
  • king: melekh (מֶלֶךְ), the sovereign ruler, the ultimate authority figure in the nation.
  • child: na'ar (נַעַר). While it literally means 'young man' or 'boy,' in this context, it primarily refers to someone who is immature, inexperienced, lacks wisdom, discretion, and the necessary judgment for governance, regardless of chronological age. A na'ar king is prone to making unwise decisions, easily swayed, and prioritizing immediate gratification or impulsive actions over the long-term well-being of the kingdom. This reflects a lack of prudence essential for effective rule.
• and your princes feast in the morning!:
  • princes: sarîm (שָׂרִים), refers to officials, nobles, high-ranking governmental advisors or administrators under the king. These are individuals entrusted with significant authority and responsibility in the administration of the kingdom.
  • feast: The Hebrew verb is sātû (שָׂתאוּ), which specifically means 'to drink' or 'to drink deeply,' often implying excessive indulgence or drunkenness. It suggests not merely eating a meal, but revelry, heavy consumption, and perhaps even gluttony and intoxication.
  • in the morning: babbōqer (בַּבֹּקֶר). This timing is crucial. The morning was typically when rulers and officials would begin their day's work, attending to duties, judgments, and state affairs. Feasting at this hour signifies a profound lack of discipline, idleness, self-indulgence, and a dereliction of duty. It means prioritizing personal pleasure over the vital work of governance and justice. It portrays a class of leaders whose focus is not on public service but on personal gratification, contributing to a sense of national malaise and moral decay.
• words-group analysis:
  • "Woe to you, O land": This powerful opening sets the tone of lament and impending disaster. It acts as a divine or prophetic pronouncement, indicating a severe condemnation of the conditions that follow. It signals that the actions of leaders have direct, catastrophic consequences for the entire national entity.
  • "king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!": This phrase encapsulates the core problem: unfit leadership at the top (immature king) compounded by corrupt, irresponsible governance at the lower, executive levels (indulgent princes). This combination is fatal to a kingdom's stability and prosperity. The imagery paints a stark picture of irresponsibility and vice occupying the highest echelons of power. Such a scenario runs contrary to the ideal of just and diligent leadership found elsewhere in Israel's wisdom tradition (e.g., Proverbs). It also subtly critiques real-world historical patterns of court decadence.

Ecclesiastes 10 16 Bonus section

The lament in Ecclesiastes 10:16 can be seen as an expression of "anti-wisdom" in practice, demonstrating the opposite of the prudence and righteousness championed elsewhere in Ecclesiastes and the Book of Proverbs. While the verse explicitly names the "king" and "princes," its principles extend metaphorically to any sphere of leadership—in a family, a business, or a spiritual community. Wherever those in charge demonstrate immaturity, irresponsibility, or self-indulgence rather than diligent stewardship, "woe" can fall upon those under their charge. The verse highlights the fundamental principle that righteous governance requires temperance, discipline, and a focus on duty rather than personal gratification. It indirectly promotes the ideal of the "philosopher-king" or wise ruler, as opposed to the hedonistic tyrant. This particular imagery of "morning feasting" has resonance with warnings against gluttony and drunkenness specifically aimed at rulers in other wisdom literature, emphasizing the unique responsibility and higher standard expected of those in authority to maintain order and dispense justice clearly.

Ecclesiastes 10 16 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:16 offers a poignant critique of leadership gone awry, providing a clear illustration of folly in governance. The "child king" is not necessarily defined by age, but by a demonstrable lack of judgment, experience, and the wisdom necessary to steer a nation. This immaturity makes the ruler vulnerable to poor advice, impulsive decisions, or neglecting the true needs of the people. This problematic central figure is then mirrored and exacerbated by the conduct of the "princes" or high officials. Their "feasting in the morning" is a stark image of unchecked indulgence and irresponsibility. In the ancient world, mornings were for serious affairs—administrating justice, making policy, hearing petitions. To instead be engaged in drunken revelry signifies a total disregard for duty and the well-being of the realm. Such behavior signals a leadership deeply immersed in luxury, neglecting justice, and therefore, spiritually unfit to govern. The lament "Woe to you, O land" underscores that this moral and administrative decay among the ruling elite directly translates into national suffering, instability, and vulnerability. The verse thus serves as both a warning against corrupt leadership and a statement of the inevitable negative consequences that befall a nation when wisdom, temperance, and diligence are absent in those who hold power.

• Examples:
  • A nation with a young, untested leader who makes decisions based on the advice of immature friends rather than wise counsel, leading to unrest.
  • Government officials who prioritize lavish parties and personal enrichment over their administrative duties, resulting in crumbling infrastructure or economic hardship for the populace.