The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 10:6 Explained

Ecclesiastes 10:6

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

YLT: He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.

Darby: folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

ASV: folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 10:6 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 10:6 mean?

is set Folly in dignity great and while the rich in a lowly place sit
נִתַּ֣ן הַסֶּ֔כֶל בַּמְּרוֹמִ֖ים רַבִּ֑ים וַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים בַּשֵּׁ֥פֶל יֵשֵֽׁבוּ

נִתַּ֣ן  is  set 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
הַסֶּ֔כֶל  Folly 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֶכֶל  
Sense: folly.
בַּמְּרוֹמִ֖ים  in  dignity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מָרֹום  
Sense: height.
רַבִּ֑ים  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וַעֲשִׁירִ֖ים  and  while  the  rich 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
בַּשֵּׁ֥פֶל  in  a  lowly  place 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁפֶל  
Sense: lowliness, low estate or condition.
יֵשֵֽׁבוּ  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.