Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

ECCLESIASTES 10:6KJV
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Ecclesiastes 10:6 (KJV)

What does Ecclesiastes 10:6 mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:6 describes a situation where foolishness is given positions of honor, while those who are wealthy or capable are placed in low or humble positions. The verse points out an upside-down order in society, where those least suited for authority are elevated, and those who might be more qualified are overlooked.

The speaker is traditionally understood to be Solomon, reflecting on the ironies and injustices he observes in life. The verse fits into a section where the writer notes how unpredictable and unfair life can be, especially in how people are promoted or demoted regardless of their actual merit or wisdom.

The Hebrew behind Ecclesiastes 10:6

  • "Folly" (כְּסִילוּת, kesilut) refers to foolishness or lack of good sense. In this verse, it is not just a personal trait but something that is publicly honored, which highlights the absurdity.
  • "Set" (נָתַן, natan) means "to place" or "to appoint." The verse uses it to show that this is not accidental—foolishness is deliberately put in a place of dignity.
  • "Great dignity" (מְרוֹמָה רַבָּה, meromah rabbah) combines the ideas of high status and abundance, stressing that folly is not just present but is given a lot of respect.
  • "Rich" (עָשִׁיר, ashir) often means wealthy, but in context can also suggest those who are competent or capable, not just financially rich.
  • "Sit" (יָשַׁב, yashav) and "place" (שָׁפָל, shaphal) together paint the picture of the capable being made to remain in a low or humble position, rather than being honored.

Why Ecclesiastes 10:6 matters

  • The verse corrects the idea that positions of honor always go to the wise or deserving; it highlights that sometimes society values the wrong things.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:6 helps explain the writer's larger theme that life is unpredictable and often unjust, challenging the reader to recognize the limits of human control.
  • The verse sets up a contrast that runs through Ecclesiastes, where wisdom and folly are often reversed in their social outcomes, prompting reflection on what truly matters.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H8216 · used in 2 verses

  • Psalms 136:23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

“rich” Hebrew H6223 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
  • Psalms 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
  • Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

“dignity” Hebrew H4791 · used in 52 verses

  • Judges 5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
  • Psalms 92:8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.
  • Isaiah 37:24 By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.