Ecclesiastes 10:20
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֣ם
H1571
גַּ֣ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
4 of 20
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל
Curse
H7043
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל
Curse
Strong's:
H7043
Word #:
5 of 20
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔
H4904
מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔
Strong's:
H4904
Word #:
7 of 20
a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
8 of 20
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל
Curse
H7043
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל
Curse
Strong's:
H7043
Word #:
9 of 20
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
ע֤וֹף
for a bird
H5775
ע֤וֹף
for a bird
Strong's:
H5775
Word #:
12 of 20
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
of the air
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙
of the air
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
13 of 20
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
יוֹלִ֣יךְ
H1980
יוֹלִ֣יךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
14 of 20
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּבַ֥עַל
and that which hath
H1167
וּבַ֥עַל
and that which hath
Strong's:
H1167
Word #:
17 of 20
a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
הכְּנָפַ֖יִם
wings
H3671
הכְּנָפַ֖יִם
wings
Strong's:
H3671
Word #:
18 of 20
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna
Cross References
Acts 23:5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.Exodus 22:28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.2 Kings 6:12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.Isaiah 8:21And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.Luke 19:40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.Luke 10:40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Historical Context
Ancient monarchies had extensive spy networks; courts were riddled with informants. The 'bird' imagery reflects genuine danger—careless speech could reach royal ears with deadly consequences. Daniel navigated such environments carefully (Daniel 6).
Questions for Reflection
- How do you maintain respectful attitudes toward authorities you disagree with or consider unjust?
- What does it mean to guard not just speech but even 'thoughts' against cursing those in power?
- How can you balance honest critique of leadership with the biblical command to honor governing authorities?
Analysis & Commentary
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought (גַּם בְּמַדָּעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל־תְּקַלֵּל, gam bemadda'akha melekh al-teqalel)—'even in your knowledge/mind, do not curse the king,' using madda (thought, knowledge). And curse not the rich in thy bedchamber (וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ אַל־תְּקַלֵּל עָשִׁיר, uvechadrei mishkavekha al-teqalel ashir)—'and in your sleeping chambers do not curse the rich.' For a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter (כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת־הַקּוֹל וּבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגֵּיד דָּבָר, ki of hashamayim yolikh et-haqol uva'al kenafayim yaggid davar)—literally 'for a bird of the heavens will carry the voice, and a winged creature will report the matter.'
Remarkable wisdom about discretion: don't curse (qalal, to treat with contempt or speak ill of) authority even in private madda (thoughts) or chadrei mishkav (bedroom chambers), because somehow it will be exposed—'a bird will carry the voice.' This proverbial expression (origin of 'little bird told me') acknowledges reality: secrets rarely stay secret. More deeply, it counsels guarding one's heart against contemptuous attitudes toward authority, knowing thoughts shape character and inevitably leak through speech. Romans 13:1-2 commands submission to governing authorities; 1 Peter 2:17 says 'Honor the emperor.' Even unjust rulers deserve honor for office, if not person. Jesus never cursed Caesar; Paul blessed hostile authorities.