Ecclesiastes 10:11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
The setting
Ancient Middle East, ~950 BC. A snake charmer arrives too late - the serpent has already struck its victim...
The emotion here: frustrated by how often good skills become useless due to poor timing
The original word
lāḥaš (לחש) — to whisper or cast spells, referring to snake charming techniques
Why it matters
Snake charmers used flutes and incantations, but had to work quickly before the snake became aggressive
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ecclesiastes 10:11
This isn't about magic being fake - it's about timing being everything, even in skilled professions
Common misconceptionPeople think this condemns snake charming as occult, but Solomon is simply observing that even legitimate skills are worthless if applied too late.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ecclesiastes 10:11
Bible Genome reading
Ecclesiastes 10:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ecclesiastes 10:11 comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include timing, wisdom. Notable phrases: snake bites; charmer's tongue.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Ecclesiastes 10:11 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "deciding"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.