אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְרֹ֥ון הַכְשֵׁ֖יר חָכְמָֽה׃
Contextual Introduction
Ecclesiastes 10:10 presents a metaphor of labor and effort: a dull iron blade, extra exertion, and the wisdom required to succeed. It fits within the broader themes of Qohelet, where wisdom is praised, yet human limitations and futility are acknowledged. This verse invites reflection on the balance between brute force and strategic thinking. The poetic structure is compact and layered, and the grammar reflects a chiastic tension between human effort and divine-gifted wisdom.
Grammatical Focus: Conditional Clauses, Verb Forms, and Lexical Wordplay
1. אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל – Conditional Clause with Adjective
– אִם (“if”) introduces a protasis.
– קֵהָ֣ה is an adjective meaning “dull” or “blunted.”
– הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל (“the iron”) is the subject of the condition.
Together, the clause reads: “If the iron is dull…”
2. וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל – Disjunctive Clause with Lexical Ambiguity
This line is syntactically difficult:
– וְהוּא֙ (“and he/it”) links back to the iron.
– לֹא־פָנִ֣ים (“not faces/edge”) is a debated phrase, often interpreted as “he does not sharpen the face [edge].”
– קִלְקַ֔ל (“he must exert more effort” or “he spoils”) is a Qal perfect 3ms from קָלַל or possibly קִלְקֵל, connoting corruption or excessive labor.
The poetic compression makes the clause difficult but conveys the idea: if the iron is not sharpened, more work is needed.
3. וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר – Strength Must Prevail
– חֲיָלִים (“strength,” “force”) is plural but often treated as a collective noun.
– יְגַבֵּ֑ר is Hiphil imperfect 3ms from גָּבַר, meaning “to strengthen,” “to overpower,” or “to succeed.”
This clause reinforces the idea that brute strength compensates when wisdom is lacking.
4. וְיִתְרֹ֥ון הַכְשֵׁ֖יר חָכְמָֽה – Wisdom as Advantage
– וְיִתְרֹ֥ון (“and the advantage”) introduces the apodosis or conclusion.
– הַכְשֵׁ֖יר (“success,” “profit”) likely functions as a construct or appositional noun.
– חָכְמָֽה (“wisdom”) is the true source of advantage.
Together: “but the advantage of success is wisdom.” This aphoristic closure elevates wisdom as the tool that prevents the need for force.
Theological and Literary Implications
Ecclesiastes 10:10 stands as an example of biblical poetic economy—multiple meanings compressed into one verse. The conditional clause introduces the need for labor when tools are ill-prepared, but the final clause asserts that wisdom preempts the need for excessive force. Grammatically, the shift from condition to apodosis reflects the human struggle with futility and the divine provision of wisdom.
Wisdom is not framed as mere knowledge but as practical foresight—the ability to sharpen the blade rather than work harder with a dull one. The metaphor is agricultural or blacksmith-oriented but universal in application: wisdom saves strength.
Versions and Comparative Observations
The Septuagint reads: ἐὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σίδηρον, καὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ μὴ ἀκονισθῇ, καὶ δυνάμεις πολλαπλασιασθήσονται· καὶ ὑπεροχὴ τοῦ κατορθώματος σοφία —preserving the conditional structure and elevating σοφία as the key to success.
The Vulgate similarly: si retusum fuerit ferrum, et hoc non ut prius, sed hebetatum, multa robora ponuntur: et utilitas dirigendi est sapientia.
Later Hebrew literature echoes this theme of wisdom as preparation and efficiency, but the vivid metaphor of dull iron remains unique to Ecclesiastes.
Sharpening the Soul: When Syntax Carries the Blade
Ecclesiastes 10:10 wields grammatical structures like a craftsman uses iron. The conditional setup, followed by a causal chain and ending in a climactic insight about wisdom, mirrors the tension between toil and insight. This verse teaches that wisdom is not only theological but deeply practical—its grammatical contours reflect its sharpness, and its poetic blade still cuts through the noise of laboring without purpose.
