Teks -- Ecclesiastes 10:8 (NET)

Wisdom is Needed to Avert Dangers in Everyday Life

10:8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Ecc 10:8 - An hedge

Whereby another man's fields or vineyards are distinguished, that he may either take away their fruits, or enlarge his own fields.

JFB: Ecc 10:8

The fatal results to kings of such an unwise policy; the wrong done to others recoils on themselves (Ecc 8:9); they fall into the pit which they dug for others (Est 7:10; Psa 7:15; Pro 26:27). Breaking through the wise fences of their throne, they suffer unexpectedly themselves; as when one is stung by a serpent lurking in the stones of his neighbor's garden wall (Psa 80:12), which he maliciously pulls down (Amo 5:19).

Clarke: Ecc 10:8 - Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him

Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him - While spoiling his neighbor’ s property, he himself may come to greater mischief: while pulling out the sticks, he may be bit by a serpent, who has his nest there. Some have supposed that נחש nachash here means a thorn; perhaps from the similarity of its prick to the serpent’ s sting. He who forces his way through a hedge will be pricked by the thorns.

TSK: Ecc 10:8 - that // a serpent

that : Jdg 9:5, Jdg 9:53-57; 2Sa 17:23, 2Sa 18:15; Est 7:10; Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16, Psa 9:15, Psa 9:16; Pro 26:27

a serpent : Amo 5:19, Amo 9:3

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Ecc 10:8 - He that diggeth a pit // Breaketh an hedge // A serpent

He that diggeth a pit with this design, that another may unawares fall into it,

shall fall into it shall through God’ s just judgment be destroyed by his own wicked devices.

Breaketh an hedge whereby another man’ s fields, or vineyards, or orchards are distinguished and fenced, that he may either enter upon them, and take away their fruits, or by that means enlarge his own adjoining fields. Possibly he may have a particular respect unto magistrates or rulers, whom God hath hedged or fenced in, both with his own institution of magistracy, and with his laws, strictly requiring obedience from their subjects; and so he notes the danger of rising and rebelling against them.

A serpent which oft lurks in hedges, and bites those who come within its reach.

Haydock: Ecc 10:8 - Him

Him. Those who disturb the state or the Church, shall be in danger.

Gill: Ecc 10:8 - He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it // and whoso breaketh an hedge a serpent shall bite him

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it,.... This and the three following clauses are proverbial expressions, teaching men to be wise and cautious, lest by their conduct they bring mischief upon themselves; as it often is, the one that digs a pit for another, falls into it himself, as the wise man's father before him had observed, Psa 7:15; as kings that lay snares for their people, and subjects that plot against their sovereign; or courtiers that form schemes for the rain of those that are in their way; or any man that devises mischief against another, frequently so it is, that the same befalls them; as Haman, who prepared a gallows for Mordecai, was hanged on it himself;

and whoso breaketh an hedge a serpent shall bite him; which often lies hid in fences, in old walls, and rotten hedges ^s, Amo 5:19; so he that breaks down the hedges and fences of kingdoms and commonwealths, and breaks through the fundamental laws of a civil constitution, and especially that transgresses the laws of God, moral or civil, may expect to smart for it. Jarchi interprets this hedge of the sayings of their wise men, which those that transgress shall suffer death by the hand of heaven: but it would be much better to apply it to the doctrines contained in the word of God, which are a hedge and fence to the church of God, and whoever transgress them will suffer for it; see 2Jo 1:8; The Targum, by the "serpent", understands an ungodly king, who bites like a serpent, into whose hands such transgressors shall be delivered: and some have thought of the old serpent the devil, as Alshech, who deceived Adam and Eve.