New International VersionFools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
New Living Translationwhen they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.
English Standard Versionfolly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
Berean Standard BibleFolly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
King James BibleFolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
New King James VersionFolly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.
New American Standard Biblefoolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places.
NASB 1995folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
NASB 1977folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
Legacy Standard Biblefolly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
Amplified Biblefolly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places.
Christian Standard BibleThe fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions.
American Standard Versionfolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Contemporary English VersionThey honor fools, but dishonor the rich;
English Revised Versionfolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationFoolish people are often given high positions, and rich people are left to fill lower positions.
Good News TranslationStupid people are given positions of authority while the rich are ignored.
International Standard VersionFoolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places.
NET BibleFools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.
New Heart English BibleFolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Webster's Bible TranslationFolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFolly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
World English BibleFolly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe has set the fool in many high places, "" And the rich sits in a low place.
Young's Literal Translation He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
Smith's Literal TranslationFolly was given to great heights, and the rich were set in lowness. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
Catholic Public Domain Versiona foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
New American Biblea fool put in high position, while the great and the rich sit in lowly places.
New Revised Standard Versionfolly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe fool is set in high and powerful places, and the rich shall sit in a low place.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedFor a fool sits in a high mighty place, and the rich will be seated in humility OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Folly is set on great heights, And the rich sit in low place.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationThe fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Wisdom and Folly… 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler: 6Follyis appointedto greatheights,but the richsitin lowly positions.7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.…
Cross References Proverbs 19:10Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
Proverbs 30:22a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
Isaiah 3:4-5“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.” / The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.
Isaiah 5:20Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
1 Samuel 2:8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
1 Kings 3:7-9And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. / Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. / Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
Psalm 113:7-8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump / to seat them with nobles, with the princes of His people.
Daniel 4:17This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
Hosea 13:11So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.
Job 34:18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
Matthew 23:12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 1:52He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
James 4:10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
1 Peter 5:5-6Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
Treasury of Scripture Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. folly Judges 9:14-20 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou,and reign over us… 1 Kings 12:13,14 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; … Esther 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes thatwere with him. dignity James 2:3-5 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: … Jump to Previous DignitiesDignityExaltedFollyFoolFoolishFoolsGreatHeightsHighHumbleKeptLowOccupyOnesPlacedPlacesPositionsRichSitWealthJump to Next DignitiesDignityExaltedFollyFoolFoolishFoolsGreatHeightsHighHumbleKeptLowOccupyOnesPlacedPlacesPositionsRichSitWealthEcclesiastes 10 1.observations of wisdom and folly7.death in life9.and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought onFolly is appointed to great heightsThis phrase highlights the paradoxical nature of human society, where those lacking wisdom or moral integrity often find themselves in positions of power and influence. In biblical context, this can be seen in the stories of leaders like King Saul, whose lack of wisdom led to his downfall (1 Samuel 15). The appointment of folly to high positions can be a result of human error, societal values that prioritize charisma over character, or divine allowance for the purpose of testing or judgment ( Daniel 4:17). This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where Paul speaks of God choosing the foolish things of the world to shame the wise ( 1 Corinthians 1:27), indicating that God's wisdom often contradicts human expectations. but the rich sit in lowly positions
In ancient Near Eastern culture, wealth was often associated with wisdom and divine favor. However, this phrase suggests a reversal of expected social order, where those who are materially wealthy or wise are relegated to positions of lesser influence. This can be seen as a critique of societal values that fail to recognize true wisdom and righteousness. The Bible often warns against the dangers of wealth leading to pride and a false sense of security (Proverbs 11:28,Matthew 19:24). The imagery of the rich sitting in lowly positions can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized humility and servanthood as the true marks of greatness (Matthew 23:11-12). This reversal is a common theme in Scripture, where God exalts the humble and brings down the proud (James 4:6). Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and writings. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature attributed to him. 2. IsraelThe nation over which Solomon reigned. The societal structure and governance of Israel during Solomon's time provide context for understanding the observations in Ecclesiastes. 3. Fools and WiseThe book contrasts the lives and outcomes of the foolish and the wise, often using societal roles and positions to illustrate these differences. 4. High PlacesIn the context of this verse, "high places" refers to positions of authority or influence within society. 5. Rich and PoorThe verse contrasts the societal positions of the rich and the poor, using them as metaphors for wisdom and folly. Teaching Points The Inversion of Worldly ValuesThe verse highlights the irony and folly of worldly systems where those lacking wisdom are often elevated to positions of power. This serves as a reminder to evaluate leadership and authority through the lens of godly wisdom rather than societal status. The Humility of the WiseThe "rich" sitting in lowly positions can symbolize those who are rich in wisdom and understanding. True wisdom often comes with humility, and the wise may not always occupy the highest societal roles. The Danger of Folly in LeadershipWhen folly is set in high places, it can lead to societal decay and injustice. This calls for discernment in choosing leaders and a reminder to pray for those in authority. God's Sovereignty Over Human AffairsDespite the apparent disorder in human systems, God remains sovereign. Believers are encouraged to trust in His ultimate justice and order. The Call to Seek WisdomThe verse serves as a call to pursue wisdom and understanding, aligning oneself with God's values rather than the world's. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 10
Does laughter bring joy to the heart?
What does the Bible say about dancing?
Does the association of the wise with the 'right' and fools with the 'left' (Ecclesiastes 10:2) reflect outdated cultural biases, and how does it align with modern moral or ethical views?
What does the Bible say about the value of laughter?Verse 6. - Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. This is an instance of the error intimated in the preceding verse. A tyrannical ruler exalts incompetent persons, unworthy favorites, to "great heights" ( ἐν ὅψεσι μεγάλοις, Septuagint), as it is literally - puts them into eminent positions. "Folly" is abstract for concrete, "fools." And the rich sit in low place. "The rich" ( ushirim) are not simply those who have wealth, however obtained, but men of noble birth; ἀρχαιόπλουτοι, as Plumptre appositely notes, persons of ancestral wealth, who from natural position might be looked upon as rulers of men. Such men would seek eminent stations, not from base motives of gain, but from an honorable ambition, and yet they are often slighted by unworthy princes and kept in low estate (comp. 1 Samuel 2:7, 8; Proverbs 19:10; Ecclus. 11:5, 6). The experience mentioned in this and the following verses could scarcely have been Solomon's, though it has been always common enough in the East, where the most startling changes have been made, the lowest persons have been suddenly raised to eminence, mistresses and favorites loaded with dignities, and oppression of the rich has been systematically pursued.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Follyהַסֶּ֔כֶל(has·se·ḵel)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5529:Silliness, doltsis appointedנִתַּ֣ן(nit·tan)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setto greatרַבִּ֑ים(rab·bîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227:Much, many, greatheights,בַּמְּרוֹמִ֖ים(bam·mə·rō·w·mîm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4791:Altitudebut the richוַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים(wa·‘ă·šî·rîm)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6223:Richsitיֵשֵֽׁבוּ׃(yê·šê·ḇū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3427:To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marryin lowly positions.בַּשֵּׁ֥פֶל(baš·šê·p̄el)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8216:Low estate or condition
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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:6 Folly is set in great dignity (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
