Ecclesiastes8
King James Version · Public Domain
1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
2I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
6Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
7For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
8There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
10And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
15Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
16When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ecclesiastes 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Commendations of wisdom. (1-5). To prepare for sudden evils and death. (6-8). It shall be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked. (9-13). Mysteries of Providence. (14-17).
vv1-5
None of the rich, the powerful, the honourable, or the accomplished of the sons of men, are so excellent, useful, or happy, as the wise man. Who else can interpret the words of God, or teach aright from his truths and dispensations? What madness must it be for weak and dependent creatures to rebel against the Almighty! What numbers form wrong judgments, and bring misery on themselves, in this life and that to come!
vv6-8
God has, in wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of future events, that we may be always ready for changes. We must all die, no flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there any weapons of effectual resistance. Ninety thousand die every day, upwards of sixty every minute, and one every moment. How solemn the thought! Oh that men were wise, that they understood these things, that they would consider their latter end! The believer alone is prepared to meet the solemn summons. Wickedness, by which men often escape human justice, cannot secure from death.
vv9-13
Solomon observed, that many a time one man rules over another to his hurt, and that prosperity hardens them in their wickedness. Sinners herein deceive themselves. Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. A good man's days have some substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked man's days are all as a shadow, empty and worthless. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important.
Key Words
מִי: who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
חָכָם: wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
פֵּשֶׁר: {an interpretation}
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
חׇכְמָה: wisdom (in a good sense)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
אוֹר: to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically)
עֹז: strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 8Communion with God and true wisdom cause a man's face to shine, typified by Moses descending Sinai.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
An oath of allegiance or covenant made before God to submit to the sovereign authority.
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The solemnity of the king's oath of covenant, sworn by God, which cannot be broken without penalty.
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Keeping the authority's command not only for wrath, but for conscience sake in regard of God.
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The supreme power of a ruler's word, where none can demand of him, 'What doest thou?'
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The wise man discerns that there is a proper time and judgment for every purpose.
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Wickedness and false covenants with death cannot deliver or protect those given to it.
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God's delayed execution of sentence is meant for repentance, but wicked men abuse it to harden hearts.
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Wicked rulers are soon forgotten in the city, contrasting with the blessed memory of the just.
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Joab coming to and going from the altar illustrates wicked men seeking shelter in the holy place.
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The pompous burial of the wicked rich man forms an awful contrast to his eternal state.
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Because they experience no changes or sudden judgments, the wicked do not fear God.
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Lawful military exemptions exist under Moses, but there is no discharge in the war of death.
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Recommending joyful, sober enjoyment of food and labor as gifts from God under the sun.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The unsearchable depth of God's judgments and ways, which man cannot fully find out.
Supported by Matthew Henry