He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks down a wall will be bitten by a snake.
This verse is warning that the harmful things we do to others often end up hurting us instead.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes is a book attributed to King Solomon, written around the 10th century BC during Israel's united monarchy, reflecting on the vanity of life and the need for wisdom amidst human folly. In this verse, the author draws from everyday agricultural experiences in ancient Near Eastern culture, where digging pits was a method for trapping animals or enemies, and hedges served as protective barriers that might harbor dangers like snakes. These metaphors highlight the practical consequences of unwise actions in a society heavily reliant on farming and manual labor.
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