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Ecclesiastes 10:12

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 10:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The words of a wise man`s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The words of a wise man`s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ecclesiastes 10:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12The words of a wise man`s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious, etc.] Or “grace”f240. He speaks kind and good things in favour of the characters of men, and not as the babbling detractor: he speaks well of civil magistrates and rulers in the state; of the ministers of the word in the church; and of all his fellow creatures, as far as can with truth be said: and a truly good and gracious man, who is Solomon’s wise man, in opposition to a fool and wicked man; his discourse will run upon the grace of God, upon the doctrines of grace, and upon the experience of the truth of grace on his heart: upon the grace of God the Father, in loving and choosing men; in contriving their salvation; in making a covenant of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“gracious--Thereby he takes precaution against sudden injury (Ecc 10:11). swallow up himself-- (Pro 10:8, Pro 10:14, Pro 10:21, Pro 10:32; Pro 12:13; Pro 15:2; Pro 22:11).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Gracious - Procure him favour with those who hear him. Ecclesiastes 10:14”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:12 Fools are destroyed by such things as foolish promises, getting caught in false testimony, and making the wrong people angry (see 5:6; Prov 17:20; 18:6-7; 19:5, 9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“words: Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Job 16:5; Psa 37:30, Psa 40:9, Psa 40:10, Psa 71:15-18; Pro 10:13, Pro 10:20, Pro 10:21, Pro 10:31, Pro 10:32; Pro 12:13, Pro 12:14, Pro 12:18, Pro 15:2, Pro 15:23, Pro 16:21-24, Pro 22:17, Pro 22:18, Pro 25:11, Pro 25:12, Pro 31:26; Mat 12:35; Luk 4:22; Eph 4:29; Col 4:6 gracious: Heb. grace but: Sa2 1:16; Kg1 20:40-42; Psa 64:8, Psa 140:9; Pro 10:8, Pro 10:10, Pro 10:14, Pro 18:6-8, Pro 19:5; Pro 26:9; Luk 19:22 Ecclesiastes 10:13”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"The words of a wise man's mouth are grace; but the lips of a fool swallow him up." The words from a wise man's mouth are חן, graciousness, i.e., gracious in their contents, their form and manner of utterance, and thus also they gain favour, affection, approbation, for culture (education) produces favour, Pro 13:15, and its lips grace (pleasantness), which has so wide an influence that he can call a king his friend, Pro 22:11, although, according to Ecc 9:11, that does not always so happen as is to be expected. The lips of a fool, on the contrary, swallow him, i.e., lead him to destruction. The Pih. בּלּע, which at Pro 19:28 means to swallow down, and at Pro 21:20 to swallow = to consume in…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification