Ecclesiastes 10:15 (KJV)

What does Ecclesiastes 10:15 mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:15 describes how foolish people exhaust themselves with their efforts, yet they do not even know how to do something as basic as finding their way to the city. The verse points out the irony that all their hard work leads nowhere because they lack practical understanding.

In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher (traditionally understood as Solomon) is speaking about the frustrations and limits of human wisdom and effort. Here, he uses the image of someone who works hard but cannot accomplish even simple tasks, highlighting the emptiness of effort without wisdom or direction. The verse fits into a section warning about the dangers of foolishness and the importance of clear thinking.

The Hebrew behind Ecclesiastes 10:15

• "labour" (עָמָל, ʿamal, H5999): This word often refers to toil or burdensome work. The verse uses it to show that the foolish person's efforts are not just tiring, but wearisome in a pointless way.
• "foolish" (כְּסִילִים, kesilim, H3684): This word means someone lacking sense or wisdom, not just someone who makes mistakes. It underlines that the problem is not effort, but a lack of understanding.
• "wearieth" (תְּיַגְּעֶנּוּ, tiyaggeʿennu, H3021): This verb means to tire out or exhaust. The verse says the foolish person's work is exhausting not only to themselves but to everyone involved.
• "knoweth" (יָדַע, yadaʿ, H3045): This word means to know or understand. The verse points out the foolish person's lack of even basic knowledge, like finding the way to the city.
• "go" (הָלַךְ, halakh, H3212): This is the common word for "to go" or "to walk." The verse uses it to emphasize the simplicity of the task the foolish person cannot do.
• "city" (עִיר, ʿir, H5892): The city was the center of community life. Not knowing the way there suggests a lack of basic life skills.

Why Ecclesiastes 10:15 matters

• The verse clears up the idea that hard work alone guarantees success; without wisdom or direction, effort can be wasted.
• Ecclesiastes 10:15 emphasizes the practical side of wisdom, showing that it is not just about knowledge, but about being able to handle everyday life.
• The verse fits into the book’s larger theme about the limits of human striving and the need for more than just effort to live well.