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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:1

Ecclesiastes 8:1. Who is wise? There are few wise men in this world. Who knoweth, &c. How few understand the reasons of things, and can rightly expound the word and works of God! A man’s wisdom makes his face, &c. Makes a man venerable, cheerful, mild, and amiable. The face is put for the mind, because the mind discovers itself in the countenance. The boldness of his face The roughness or fierceness of it, shall be changed Into gentleness and humility. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:2-4

Ecclesiastes 8:2-4. I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment All his commands which are not contrary to the will of God, who must be obeyed rather than any man, even rather than a king. In regard of the oath of God Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God’s laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one. Be not hasty to go out of his sight Hebrew, to go from his face or presence, namely, in dislike or discontent to withdraw thyself from the king’s service,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:5

Ecclesiastes 8:5. Whoso keepeth the commandment Solomon here passes to a new subject; shall feel no evil thing Shall be delivered from those mischiefs which befall the disobedient. A wise man’s heart discerneth, &c. Both when, and in what manner, he must keep the commands of God. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

Compromise, despair and joy (8:1-17)Wisdom helps people see the underlying meaning of things and teaches them that to act with pleasantness is better than to act with harshness (8:1). If, for example, people work in the king’s palace, they will do what the king says, partly because they have sworn before God to be obedient and partly because they will be punished if they disobey. But if they find the king’s command unreasonable, wisdom will show them a way out. They will wait for a suitable... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 8:1

as = like. who . . . ? Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), from the preceding line: "Who [is like him that] knoweth? " interpretation = understanding. wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 8:1 , Proverbs 8:2 . boldness = sternness. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 8:2

I counsel thee: or I say, then, in regard of-on account of. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 8:3

stand not = do not take thy stand. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulg, read, "and stand not". read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 8:4

power = might, or control. Hebrew. shilton. Occurs only here and in Ecclesiastes 8:8 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 8:5

feel = know. evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. time and judgment = a time, yea, a judgment time. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1

OBEDIENCE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WISDOM[1]Ecclesiastes 8:1-5"Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. I counsel thee, Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. For the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the... read more

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