Ecclesiastes 8:1,Ecclesiastes 8:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1-5

Here is, I. An encomium of wisdom (Eccl. 8:1), that is, of true piety, guided in all its exercises by prudence and discretion. The wise man is the good man, that knows God and glorifies him, knows himself and does well for himself; his wisdom is a great happiness to him, for, 1. It advances him above his neighbours, and makes him more excellent than they: Who is as the wise man? Note, Heavenly wisdom will make a man an incomparable man. No man without grace, though he be learned, or noble, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who is as the wise man ?.... Who is as the first man, that was made upright, and was a wise man? not one of his sons. Or who is as the wise man, meaning himself? no man; he was the wisest of men; and yet he could not find out wisdom, and the reason of things, and the wickedness of folly, Ecclesiastes 7:25 ; how therefore should any other man? what can the man do that comes after the king? Or who is like to a wise man, to he compared to him for honour and dignity? none; not those of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who knoweth the interpretation - פשר pesher , a pure Chaldee word, found nowhere else in the Bible but in the Chaldee parts of Daniel. "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine." Every state of the heart shines through the countenance; but there is such an evidence of the contented, happy, pure, benevolent state of the soul in the face of a truly pious man, that it must be observed, and cannot be mistaken. In the Hebrew the former clause of this verse ends the preceding chapter. Who has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who is as the wise man? i . e . Who is like, equal to, the wise man? The somewhat sudden question occurs naturally after the results of the search for wisdom mentioned at the end of the last chapter. The thought is not, as in Hosea 14:9 and Jeremiah 9:12 , "Who is wise?" but—No one Call be compared with a wise man; he has no compeer. And who [like him] knoweth the interpretation of a thing? Who, so well as the wise man, understands the proper relation of circumstances, sees... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

Section 5. There is no use in repining or rebelling; true wisdom counsels obedience to the powers that be , and submission to the dispensations of Providence . However oppressive a tyrant may prove sure retribution awaits him. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:1

And who - Rather, and as he who knoweth. The possessor of wisdom excels other people: it imparts serenity to his countenance, and removes the expression of gloom or fierceness (see the marginal reference). read more

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

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

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

Ecclesiastes 8:1,ecclesiastes 8:5