Ecclesiastes 10:2 Meaning and Explanation
“A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wise person inclines toward what is right and skillful, while the fool leans the other way.
What Does Ecclesiastes 10:2 Mean?
In Hebrew speech the right hand stood for strength, skill, and favor, while the left suggested weakness or the wrong direction. The Preacher is not mapping the human body but the inner bent of the heart. The wise are steadied toward what is good; the foolish drift toward harm.
The heart, in Scripture, is the seat of choice and direction. To say the wise man's heart is at his right hand is to say his deepest leanings carry him toward sound paths. This invites us to ask which way our own heart inclines, and to seek the wisdom that orders the inner life before it ever shapes the outward step.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 in the Original Language
leb (לֵב), 'heart' -- the inner seat of thought, will, and direction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 10:2
What does Ecclesiastes 10:2 mean?
The wise person inclines toward what is right and skillful, while the fool leans the other way.