The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 10:18 Explained

Ecclesiastes 10:18

KJV: By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

YLT: By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.

Darby: By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.

ASV: By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

By much slothfulness  the building  decayeth;  and through idleness  of the hands  the house  droppeth through. 

What does Ecclesiastes 10:18 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 10

1  observations of wisdom and folly
7  death in life
9  and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 10:18 mean?

because of laziness decays the building and through idleness of hands leaks the house
בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם יִמַּ֣ךְ הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת יָדַ֖יִם יִדְלֹ֥ף הַבָּֽיִת

בַּעֲצַלְתַּ֖יִם  because  of  laziness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, fd
Root: עַצְלָה 
Sense: sluggishness, laziness.
יִמַּ֣ךְ  decays 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָכַךְ  
Sense: to be low, be humiliated.
הַמְּקָרֶ֑ה  the  building 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְקָרֶה  
Sense: beam work.
וּבְשִׁפְל֥וּת  and  through  idleness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שִׁפְלוּת  
Sense: sinking, idleness, inactivity.
יָדַ֖יִם  of  hands 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יִדְלֹ֥ף  leaks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּלַף 
Sense: to drop, drip.
הַבָּֽיִת  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.