Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 7:6
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.
6. As the crackling of thorns under a pot ] As in Ecc 7:1 the epigrammatic proverb is pointed by a play of alliterative assonance ( sirim = thorns, sir = pot). “As crackling nettles under kettles,” “As crackling stubble makes the pot bubble” are the nearest English equivalents. The image is drawn from the Eastern use of hay, stubble, and thorns for fuel (Mat 6:30; Psa 118:12). A fire of such material, burnt up more quickly than the charcoal embers (Jer 26:22; Joh 18:18), which were also in common use, but then it also died out quickly and left nothing but cold dead ashes. So it would be with the mirth which was merely frivolous or foul. That also would take its place in the catalogue of vanities.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As the crackling of thorns – Noisy while it lasts, and quickly extinguished. See Psa 58:9 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. For as the crackling of thorns] They make a great noise, a great blaze; and are extinguished in a few moments. Such indeed, comparatively, are the joys of life; they are noisy, flashy, and transitory.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The crackling of thorns, which for a time make a great noise and blaze, but presently waste themselves, and go out without any considerable effect upon the meat in the pot.
So; so vanishing and fruitless.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. cracklinganswers to theloud merriment of fools. It is the very fire consuming them whichproduces the seeming merry noise (Joe2:5). Their light soon goes out in the black darkness. There is aparonomasia in the Hebrew, Sirim (“thorns”), Sir(“pot”). The wicked are often compared to “thorns”(2Sa 23:6; Nah 1:10).Dried cow-dung was the common fuel in Palestine; its slowness inburning makes the quickness of a fire of thorns the more graphic, asan image of the sudden end of fools (Ps118:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool,…. As thorns are weak, useless, and unprofitable; yea, hurtful and pernicious, and only fit for burning; so are foolish and wicked men, 2Sa 23:6; and as the noise and sound of the one under a pot is very short, they make a blaze for a while, and is soon over; so though the laughter of a fool is loud and noisy, it makes no melody, no more than the noise of thorns; and is but for a moment, and will be soon changed for weeping and howling, which will last for ever; see Job 20:5;
this also [is] vanity; the carnal mirth of wicked men.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) There is again a play on words, which German translators represent by the crackling of nettle under the kettle, and Plumptre the crackling of stubble which makes the pot bubble. The reference plainly is to the quick blazing up and quick going out of the flame.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Crackling of thorns The reason why. The usual fuel mentioned in the Old Testament is charcoal, compared with which dry thorn bushes though quicker to kindle, are brief and ineffectual. The Hebrew words for pot and thorns sound queerly together, like the English “noisy nettles under kettles” imitating a shallow laughter.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ecc 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.
Ver. 6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot. ] Much noise, little fire; much light, little heat. So here is much mirth, little cause; a blaze it may yield, but is suddenly extinct; this blaze is also under a pot; the gallantry of it is checked with troubles and terrors; it is insincere many times; it is but the “hypocrisy of mirth,” as one calls it. It is truly and trimly here compared to a handful of brushwood, or sear thorn, under the pot. Ecquando vidisti flammam stipula exortam, claro strepitu, largo fulgore, cito incremento, sed enim materia levi, caduco incendio, nullis reliquiis, saith Apuleius – a very dainty description of carnal joy, and agreeable to this text. And herewith also very well suits that of the Psalmist, “Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.” Psa 58:9 Fools themselves are but thorns twisted and folded together; Nah 1:10 “briars”; Mic 7:4 “brambles.” Jdg 9:14 Their laughter is also fitly compared to thorns, because it chokes good motions, scratcheth the conscience, harbours the vermin of base and baggage lusts. And as themselves, like thorns, shall be thrust away and utterly burnt with fire in the same place, 2Sa 23:6-7 so their joy soon expireth, and proves to be rather desolation than consolation – as lightning is followed with rending and roaring, as comets outblaze the very stars, but when their exhaled matter is wasted, they vanish and fill the air with pestilent vapours. The prophet Amos telleth the wicked that “their sun shall go down at noonday.” Amo 8:9 Surely as metals are then nearest melting when they shine brightest in the fire, and as the fishes swim merrily down the silver streams of Jordan till they suddenly fall into the Dead Sea, where presently they perish, so it fares with these merry Greeks that fleer a when they should fear, and laugh when they should lament. “Woe to you that laugh,” Luk 6:25 saith Christ; how suddenly are they put out as the fire of thorns! Psa 118:12
a To laugh in a coarse, impudent, or unbecoming manner.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
crackling. Same word as “voice” (Gen 3:8), used of any sound.
thorns . . . pot. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6). Hebrew. hassirim . . . hassir. May be Englished by “nettles . . . kettles”.
vanity. See note on Ecc 1:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
as: Ecc 2:2, Psa 58:9, Psa 118:12, Isa 65:13-15, Amo 8:10, Luk 6:25, Luk 16:25, 2Pe 2:13-17, Jud 1:12, Jud 1:13
crackling: Heb. sound
the laughter: Pro 29:9
Reciprocal: Pro 14:13 – General Jam 4:9 – let
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:6 For as the crackling of {d} thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.
(d) Which crackle for a while and profit nothing.