As dead
מָ֔וֶת (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

flies
זְב֣וּבֵי (zə·ḇū·ḇê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's Hebrew 2070: A fly

bring
יַבִּ֖יעַ (yab·bî·a‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5042: To gush forth, to utter, to emit

a stench
יַבְאִ֥ישׁ (yaḇ·’îš)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 887: To smell bad, to be offensive

to the perfumer’s
רוֹקֵ֑חַ (rō·w·qê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 7543: To mix or compound oil or ointment

oil,
שֶׁ֣מֶן (še·men)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

so a little
מְעָֽט׃ (mə·‘āṭ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4592: A little, fewness, a few

folly
סִכְל֥וּת (siḵ·lūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 5531: Silliness

outweighs
יָקָ֛ר (yā·qār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3368: Precious, rare, splendid, weighty

wisdom
מֵחָכְמָ֥ה (mê·ḥā·ḵə·māh)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2451: Wisdom

and honor.
מִכָּב֖וֹד (mik·kā·ḇō·wḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness
Verses 1-3. - Section 11. A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, and is sure to make itself conspicuous. Verse 1. - Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor. This is a metaphorical confirmation of the truth enunciated at the end of the last chapter, "One sinner destroyeth much good." It is like the apostle's warning to his converts, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). The Hebrew expression is literally, "flies of death," which may mean either "dead flies," as in our version and the Vulgate (muses morientes), or "deadly, poisonous flies," as in the Septuagint (μυῖαι θανατοῦσαι). The latter rendering seems preferable, if we regard the use of similar compound phrases, e.g., "instruments of death" (Psalm 7:14: [13]); "snares of death" (Psalm 18:5); and in New Testament Greek, ἡ πληγὴ τοῦ θανάτου, "the death-stroke" (Revelation 13:3, 12). The flies meant are such as are poisonous in their bite, or carry infection with them. Such insects corrupt anything which they touch - food, ointment, whether they perish where they alight or not. They, as the Hebrew says, make to stink, make to ferment, the oil of the perfumer. The singular verb is here used with the plural subject to express the unity of the individuals, "flies" forming one complete idea. The Septuagint rendering omits one of the verbs: Σαμπιοῦσι σκευασίαν ἐλαίου ἡδύσματος, "Corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment." The point, of course, is the comparative insignificance of the cause which spoils a costly substance compounded with care and skill. Thus little faults mar great characters and reputations. "A good name is better than precious ointment" (Ecclesiastes 7:1), but a good name is ruined by follies, and then it stinks in men's nostrils. The term, "ointment of the apothecary," is used by Moses (Exodus 30:25, etc.) in describing the holy chrism which was reserved for special occasions. So doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. The meaning of the Authorized Version is tolerably correct, but the actual rendering will hardly stand, and one wants some verb to govern "him that," etc. The other versions vary. Septuagint, "A little wisdom is more precious (τίμιον) than great glory of folly;" Vulgate, "More precious are wisdom and glory than small and short-lived folly;" Jerome, "Precious above wisdom and glory is a little folly." This last interpretation proceeds upon the idea that such "folly" is at any rate free from pride, and has few glaring faults. "Dulce est desipere in loco," says Horace ('Carm.,' 4:12. 28). But the original is best translated thus: "More weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly." It is a painful fact that a little folly, one foolish act, one silly peculiarity of manner or disposition, will suffice to impair the real value of a matt's wisdom and the estimation in which he was held. The little clement of foolishness, like the little insect in the ointment, obscures the real excellence of the man, and deprives him of the honor that is really his due. And in religion we know that one fault unchecked, one Secret sin cherished, poisons the whole character, makes a man lose the grace of God. (For the same effect from another cause, see Ezekiel 3:20; Ezekiel 33:13.) Jerome sees in the "dead flies" wicked thoughts put into the Christian's mind by Beelzebub, "the lord of flies." Apothecary Bad Cause Dead Evil Flies Folly Foolishness Forth Glory Great Honor Honour Little Odor Offensive Oil Ointment Outweigh Outweighs Perfume Perfumer Precious Putrid Reason Reputation Savour Stink Valued Weightier WisdomApothecary Bad Cause Dead Evil Flies Folly Foolishness Forth Glory Great Honor Honour Little Odor Offensive Oil Ointment Outweigh Outweighs Perfume Perfumer Precious Putrid Reason Reputation Savour Stink Valued Weightier WisdomEcclesiastes 10:1 NIV
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Alphabetical: a and As bad dead flies folly foolishness give honor is little make oil outweighs perfume perfumer's smell so stink than weightier wisdom

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the oil (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools