Ecclesiastes 8:5 KJV

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

The interval between this chapter and the preceding represents a pause in the writer’s thought, and now he seems to set out on a new quest for the chief good in life. He will seek it in wise conduct. He will renounce feasting and trying the opposite (Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 ); he will avoid extremes (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 ); no one is perfectly righteous (Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 ); the worst thing he has found is woman (Ecclesiastes 7:23-26 ); and the conclusion is that man is indeed a fallen creature... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

Some Striking Views of Human Nature Ecclesiastes 7-8 We are still in Coheleth's memorandum-book. There is little or no connection between these scattered sentences. To read them is like stepping upon stones that have been laid in a brook, rather than crossing a well-built bridge. There is a mournful tone in this seventh chapter. It is full of dyspeptic and disagreeable remarks. Cypress shadows lie over it, with hardly a breeze to disturb them and to let the light twinkle and sparkle between... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:2-7

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. (3) Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. (4) Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? (5) Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. (6) Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:5

Answer. Hebrew, "judgment." He knows when to reprove even kings with effect; like Nathan, Elias, or St. Ambrose, 2 Kings xii. 1., and 3 Kings xviii. 17. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1-5

1-5 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! read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

In Civil Relations v. 1. Who is as the wise man? equal to him in the right understanding of things. And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The advantages of true-wisdom are again emphasized. A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, a sunny countenance being the reflection of a wise and serene mind, and the boldness of his face shall be changed, for the truly cultured person avoids all coarseness, cultivating, instead, a proper form of benign conduct. v. 2. I counsel thee to keep... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Ecclesiastes 8:1-15

2. Against the temptations to disloyalty and rebellion in national and civil relations(Ecclesiastes 8:1-8)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 2changed. I 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... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

In this division, dealing with the evidences of the vanity of life, the preacher sets forth certain deductions. The highest wisdom is submission to things as they are. Who knows anything? he asks. Therefore it is good to recognize the king's authority and yield to it, to recognize the inevitableness of all things and submit to them, to recognize the absolute certainty of death and to abandon one's self to that certainty. Yet in doing all this there will abide in the heart the recognition of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

Advice With Regard to a Wise Man’s Responsibility in Serving the King (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 ). We must not interpret these verses without regard to what we know about this king. His instruction will surely accord with his own views on authority, and its responsibilities. So our interpretation will depend on our view of who and what the writer is. Some see these instructions as being general advice, given simply in the light of the fact that most kings were despots. Others see them as the... read more