Ecclesiastes 8:10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:9-13

Solomon, in the beginning of the chapter, had warned us against having any thing to do with seditious subjects; here, in these verses, he encourages us, in reference to the mischief of tyrannical and oppressive rulers, such as he had complained of before, Eccl. 3:16; 4:1. 1. He had observed many such rulers, Eccl. 8:9. In the serious views and reviews he had taken of the children of men and their state he had observed that many a time one man rules over another to his hurt; that is, (1.) To... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:10

And so I saw the wicked buried ,.... Or "truly" F11 ובכן "et vere", Vatablus. , verily, as the Targum, this is matter of fact; or "then I saw", as Aben Ezra and others, upon applying his heart to every work; or when be observed particularly wicked magistrates, he took notice that some of them continued in their power until death, and died in their beds, and were carried to their graves in great pomp and state, and interred in a very magnificent manner, when they deserved no burial at... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:10

Who had come and gone from the place of the holy - The place of the holy is the sacred office which they held, anointed either as kings or priests to God; and, not having fulfilled the holy office in a holy way, have been carried to their graves without lamentation, and lie among the dead without remembrance. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:10

And so ( וּבְכֵן ); then, in like manner, under the same circumstances ( Esther 4:16 ). The writer notes some apparent exceptions to the law of retribution of which he has just been speaking, the double particle at the beginning of the verse implying the connection with the preceding statement. I saw the wicked buried . "The wicked" are especially the despots ( Ecclesiastes 8:9 ). These are carried to their graves with every outward honor and respect, like the rich man in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:10-15

Section 6. Koheleth is troubled by apparent anomalies in God's moral government. He notes the prosperity of the godless and the misery of the righteous, God's abstention and the seeming impunity of sinners make men incredulous of Providence; but God is just in reward and punishment, as the end will prove. Meantime, returning to his old maxim, he advises men patiently to acquiesce in things as they are, and to make the best of life. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:10

i. e., “I saw wicked (rulers) buried, who came into the world and went from the Holy place (the seat of authority and justice, Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Chronicles 19:6), and they were forgotten in the city where they had so ruled to the hurt of their subjects: this - their death and oblivion - shews their lot also to be vanity.” Others interpret the verse: “I have seen wicked men buried; and (others) came into the world, and from the Holy place they went out of the world, and were forgotten in the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:9-10

Ecclesiastes 8:9-10. All this I have seen All these things before mentioned; and applied my heart unto every work I have been a diligent observer of all actions and events. There is a time when one man ruleth, &c. There are some kings, who use their power tyrannically, whereby they not only oppress their people, but hurt themselves, bringing the vengeance of God upon their own heads. And so I saw In like manner; the wicked Wicked princes or rulers, buried With state or pomp; ... 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 8:10

I saw = I have seen. the wicked = lawless men (plural) Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . come and gone. Supply the complex Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "I have seen wicked men come [to the grave; and righteous men] depart [in death, Genesis 15:2 ] from the place of the holy, and be forgotten", &c. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:9-10

Ecclesiastes 8:9-10. All this have I seen— All this have I observed, when I bestowed all the application that I was capable of on all works which are done under the sun; while man exerciseth an absolute authority over man to hurt him: Ecclesiastes 8:10. Nay, then I saw wicked men buried. Though they came even from the place of prostitution, they shall go and be praised in the city where they have done so. The word קדושׁ kadosh, which I have rendered the place of prostitution, signifies,... read more