Ecclesiastes 10:11

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

אם אִם־

if

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אם

ʼim

Definition

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

Root

a primitive particle;

Exhaustive

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not; (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H518

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אִם

conjunction • Strongs_Numbers • Page 146

If; a conditional conjunction.

אִם

conjunction • Strongs_Numbers • Page 147

Conditional particle corresponding to 'if', 'whether', or 'although'. It is used with perfect and imperfect tenses to express conditions, repeated acts, or permanent states. In formulas of swearing (oaths), it implies a negative ('surely not'). It can also introduce a question.

אִם

conj. / particle • Strongs_Numbers • Page 148

Conditional particle indicating 'if', 'whether', 'either...or'; also used as a particle of time: 'when', 'since'; a particle of wishing: 'oh if!', 'would that!'; and sometimes as an exclamation: 'behold!', 'lo!'.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אִם

primitive particle • Page 54

1. adv. of time, when; referring either to time past, like the Germ. da, als, Am. 7: 2 when they had en-

אִם

conj. / adv. / interrog. particle • Page 55

A conditional and interrogative particle with multiple senses: 2. if, supposing that; 3. although (Judg. 13:16); 4. O that (Gen. 30:27); 5. whether... or (Ex. 19:13); 6. in swearing (not, that not; 2 Sam. 11:11); 7. perhaps that (Gen. 31:52); 8. interrogative (Jer. 3:5); 11. whether...not (Est. 4:14); 13. (אם-לא) if not, but (Gen. 24:58).

Particle

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0518a:

No stats available

ישך יִשֹּׁךְ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

נשך

nâshak

Definition

to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan; bite, lend upon usury.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5391

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

נָשַׁךְ

verb • Strongs / High • Page 995

trans. to pierce, to cut into, to cut off; hence to bite, of a serpent; metaphorically to inflict injury, to oppress; to lend on usury.

Verb Qal imperfect third person masculine singular

LXX: ἐκτοκιεῖσ δήξεται

LXX Usage Statistics

H5391a:

ἐκτοκιεῖσ 3× (19.0%)

δήξεται 2× (11.7%)

הנחש הַנָּחָשׁ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ה

Definition

the

Root

Demonstrative primitive

Exhaustive

definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

נחש

nâchâsh

Definition

a snake (from its hiss)

Root

from H5172 (נחש);

Exhaustive

from נחש; a snake (from its hiss); serpent.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5175

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

נָחָשׁ

noun masculine • Root נחש • Strongs / High • Page 929

Ethiopic name (Nahas) corresponding to the Hebrew letter Nun.

נָחָשׁ

masculine noun • Strongs / High • Page 963

1. A serpent, sea-serpent, or water monster. 2. The constellation of the northern dragon (Draco). 3. A proper name of a city. 4. A masculine proper name, meaning 'oracle-giver'.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

נָחָשׁ

noun masculine • Page 438

1. a serpent. Gen. 3: 1 ff. Ex. 4: 3. 7: 15. 2. the serpent or dragon, a constellation between the greater and lesser bear. Job 26: 13. 3. proper name of a city otherwise unknown. 1 Chr. 4: 12.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: ὄφισ ὄφιν ὄφεωσ ὄφεισ ὡσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H5175:

ὄφισ 11× (32.3%)

ὄφιν 7× (20.3%)

ὄφεωσ 5× (14.3%)

ὄφεισ 3× (8.8%)

ὡσ 2× (6.5%)

ὄφει 2× (5.5%)

בלוא בְּלוֹא־

in the hand

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ב

bə

Definition

in, by

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(beth) — in / within / by means of

Core value: interiority, enclosure, participation

ב does not primarily mean “in time” (“when”) or even “in space.” It marks being inside a domain, whether that domain is:
- spatial (house, land),
- conceptual (wisdom, covenant),
- modal (strength, fear),
- instrumental (by means of).
Aonically, ב marks immersion.
not “when X happened” but “within the state or field of X.”
This is why ב־יום does not need to mean “on the day (chronological)” but “within the day-realm / condition”.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

לא

lôʼ

Definition

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

Root

or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;

Exhaustive

or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3808

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

לֹא

negative particle • Root אל • Strongs / High • Page 759

A negative particle; not, no. It functions as an absolute negative, a negative answer to a question, or a refusal. Used with verbs in various tenses and moods to express negation or prohibition.

לֹא

particle • Strongs / High • Page 761

A K'ri reading for לוֹ.

לֹא

adverb / particle • Strongs / High • Page 760

Not; No; Nothing (substantive use); Before (cognate sense to טֶרֶם).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

לֹא

adverb • Page 338

A primitive adverb of negation (more rarely לוֹא). 1. not. 2. no (Gen. 19:2). 3. nothing (Job 6:21). 4. without (1 Chr. 2:30). 5. interrogative, nonne? (Jon. 4:11). 6. lest, that not (Ex. 28:32). 7. In combination with adjectives/substantives it gives a negative signification (e.g., לֹא עֹז without strength).

Preposition, Particle negative

LXX: οὐκ οὐ μὴ οὐδὲ οὐχ

LXX Usage Statistics

H3808:

οὐκ 1137× (34.5%)

οὐ 797× (24.2%)

μὴ 184× (5.6%)

οὐδὲ 150× (4.5%)

οὐχ 127× (3.9%)

οὐχὶ 120× (3.6%)

--- 98× (3.0%)

'' 94× (2.4%)

---% 62× (1.5%)

οὐκέτι 50× (1.4%)

לחש לָחַשׁ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

לחש

lachash

Definition

properly, a whisper, i.e. by implication, (in a good sense) a private prayer, (in a bad one) an incantation; concretely, an amulet

Root

from H3907 (לחש);

Exhaustive

from לחש; properly, a whisper, i.e. by implication, (in a good sense) a private prayer, (in a bad one) an incantation; concretely, an amulet; charmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3908

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

לַחַשׁ

masculine noun • Root לחש • Strongs / High • Page 784

1. an incantation-whisper, a magic muttering, mysterious formulas and words, the charming of serpents. 2. a quiet, calm, gentle prayer. 3. (in plural לְחָשִׁים) enchantments, amulets with magic sentences to protect against enchantments.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

לַחַשׁ

noun masculine • Root לחש • Page 345

1. a whispering, sighing, or calling for help (Is. 26:16). 2. magic, conjuration (Is. 3:3). Particularly the charming of serpents (Jer. 8:17). 3. a charm, amulet (Is. 3:20).

Noun common both singular absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H3908:

No stats available

ואין וְאֵין

and there is not

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

אין

ʼayin

Definition

a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle

Root

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist;

Exhaustive

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle; else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare אין.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H369

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אַיִן

adverb • Strongs_Numbers • Page 115

I. Interrogative adverb: where? Correlative to the words אָן and אֵי.

אַיִן

adv. / adjective • Strongs_Numbers • Page 115

II. A word of negation; primitive meaning sometimes an adverb (not, non), sometimes an adjective (none).

אַיִן

substantive / adv. • Strongs_Numbers • Page 116

Nothing, not, there is not; negation of existence. (Absolute state)

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֵין

substantive / adv. of negation • Root אין • Page 45

Properly a substantive meaning nothingness, defect, or non-existence. Used as an adverb of negation: 1. not, including the verb 'to be' (Gen. 37:29, Num. 14:42). 2. Used to signify 'to not be' or 'not to exist' (1 Sam. 9:4, 1 K. 18:10). 3. nothing (Ps. 19:7). 4. without (Ex. 21:11, Joel 1:6). 5. Combined with prepositions (Prov. 8:24, Ezek. 38:11).

אֵין

adv. of interr. • Root אי • Page 45

Where? Equivalent to אֵי or אַי with paragogic ן. Found only with the prefix מִ, as in מֵאַיִן meaning 'whence?' (Gen. 29:4).

אֵין

adverb • Page 45

Found only in 1 Sam. 21:9. Equivalent to the negative אֵין, but used interrogatively for הַאֵין meaning 'is there not?'.

Conjunction, Noun common both singular construct

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0369:

No stats available

יתרון יִתְרוֹן

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

יתרון

yithrôwn

Definition

preeminence, gain

Root

from H3498 (יתר);

Exhaustive

from יתר; preeminence, gain; better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3504

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

יִתְרוֹן

masculine noun • Root יתר • Strongs / High • Page 666

The residue, what remains; that which exceeds what is necessary, superabundance, riches; pre-eminence, excellence.

יִתְרוֹן

noun • Strongs / High • Page 667

advantage, gain, use. It is a late Hebrew word, used only by the author of Ecclesiastes.

יִתְרוֹן

proper noun / masculine • Strongs / High • Page 667

the Excellent one, viz. Jah is. A proper name for which יִתְרָן stands in 1 Chr. 7, 38.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

יִתְרוֹן

m. verbal • Root יתר • Page 305

1. advantage, profit (Ecc. 1:3, 2:11). 2. excellence (Ecc. 2:13).

Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: περισσεία

LXX Usage Statistics

H3504:

περισσεία 10× (90.4%)

לבעל לְבַעַל

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

בעל

baʻal

Definition

a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)

Root

from H1166 (בעל);

Exhaustive

from בעל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1167

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

בְּעֵל

noun masculine • Consonantal / Medium • Page 265

Aramaic masculine same as Hebrew בַּעַל in the sense lord, possessor; therefore בְּעֵל טְעֵם prop. lord of the (royal) decree i.e. either stadtholder, or chancellor.

Matched via consonantal key only

בַּעַל

noun masculine • Root בעל • Consonantal / Medium • Page 262

1. Master, lord, possessor, owner; husband; (in plural construct before city names) dwellers, citizens. 2. Baal, the supreme god of the Syro-Phoenician peoples.

Matched via consonantal key only

בַּעַל

noun proper masculine • Consonantal / Medium • Page 264

a) A personal proper name (1 Chr. 5:5; 8:30). b) The proper name of a city in Simeon, which may be identical with Ba'alath-Beer.

Matched via consonantal key only

בָּעַל

verb • Root בעל • Consonantal / Medium • Page 262

(Not used in Qal) 1. To be big, mighty, strong, to vanquish. 2. Metaphorically to possess, to have.

Matched via consonantal key only

בָּעַל

verb • Root בעל • Consonantal / Medium • Page 264

To be lord, possessor, to rule; oftener to take to wife, to marry (prop. according to the oriental view to rule the woman).

Matched via consonantal key only

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בַּעַל

noun • Root בעל • Page 107

1. lord, owner. (Ex. 21:28; Judg. 19:22). 2. husband (as the lord of the wife). (2 Sam. 11:26; Ex. 21:22). 3. Joined with many substantives of different significations, it denotes one who possesses or is otherwise connected with the thing denoted by the noun. (Ex. 24:14, Prov. 1:17, Is. 41:15).

בַּעַל

noun masculine • Root בעל • Page 108

Masters, owners, inhabitants, or citizens. Gen. 37: 19 (masters of arrows); Gen. 49: 23 (masters of an oath/covenant). Joined with city name, denotes an inhabitant (Josh. 24: 11, Judg. 9: 2). Name of the tutelary god of the Phenicians and Syrians (Judg. 6: 25, 1 K. 18: 18). Often identified with Hercules (Ἡρακλῆς) by the Greeks. Plural: הַבְּעָלִים (the Baals or Baalim).

בַּעַל

chald. idem. • Root בעל • Page 108

Same as the Hebrew equivalent. Ezra 4: 8. See טְעֵם.

בָּעַל

verb • Page 107

1. to possess, command, rule over. (Is. 26:13; 1 Chr. 4:22). 2. to take for a wife, to marry. (Deut. 21:13, 24:1; Is. 62:5). 3. construed with בְּ, to despise, loathe. (Jer. 3:14, 31:32).

Preposition, Noun common both singular construct

LXX: ἄνδρεσ κύριοσ αὐτῆσ ἀνδρῶν ἀνὴρ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1167:

ἄνδρεσ 8× (8.0%)

κύριοσ 8× (7.1%)

αὐτῆσ 8× (6.3%)

ἀνδρῶν 6× (5.9%)

ἀνὴρ 5× (4.9%)

παρ' 4× (3.9%)

ἄνδρασ 4× (3.9%)

βααλταμ 3× (3.4%)

κυρίῳ 3× (2.9%)

--- 2× (2.3%)

הלשון הַלָּשׁוֹן׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ה

Definition

the

Root

Demonstrative primitive

Exhaustive

definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

לשון

lâshôwn

Definition

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

Root

or לשן; also (in plural) feminine לשנה; from H3960 (לשן);

Exhaustive

or לשן; also (in plural) feminine לשנה; from לשן; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water); [phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3956

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

לָשׁוֹן

noun • Root לוש • Strongs / High • Page 780

The tongue, properly the licker.

לָשׁוֹן

noun / masculine and feminine • Root לשש • Strongs / High • Page 794

The tongue, as the organ for licking, swallowing, and speech. By extension, it means speech itself, language, or an idiom. It is also used metaphorically for tongue-shaped objects like a bar of gold, a flame, or a bay of the sea, and is the name of a plant.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

לָשׁוֹן

com. gen. • Page 349

1. a tongue (Ps. 10:7). Used for a conjurer (Ecc. 10:11), a slanderer (Ps. 140:12), perverted speech (Prov. 17:20), language (Dan. 1:4), a people (Is. 66:18). 2. applied to things without life, as a bar of gold (Josh. 7:21), a flame of fire (Is. 5:24), a tongue of the sea/bay (Josh. 15:5).

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: γλῶσσα γλῶσσαν γλώσσῃ γλώσσησ γλῶσσά

LXX Usage Statistics

H3956:

γλῶσσα 23× (17.5%)

γλῶσσαν 15× (11.8%)

γλώσσῃ 15× (11.7%)

γλώσσησ 10× (8.0%)

γλῶσσά 10× (7.1%)

γλώσσασ 5× (3.6%)

γλῶσσάν 4× (2.8%)

γλῶσσαι 4× (3.0%)

λέξιν 3× (1.5%)

'' 3× (2.2%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
If a serpent will bite without magic; and no preeminence to the possessor of the tongue.

LITV Translation:
If the snake will bite without charming, then there is no advantage to a master of tongue.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
If a serpent bite when there is no charmer’s whisper, Then there is no advantage to the charmer.