Ecclesiastes 8:11 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 8:11

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily ,.... Any evil work done by magistrates, or others, against which the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, and is threatened with his vengeance; the decree is gone forth, the sentence is passed, God is determined upon punishment; but there is a delay of it, he exercises patience and longsuffering to answer some end of his, both towards his own people and the wicked; as well as to display some of his own perfections; but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:11

Because sentence - פתגם pithgam , a Divine decree or declaration. This is no Hebrew, but a mere Chaldee word, and occurs only in the later books of the Bible - Esther, Ezra and Daniel, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which leadeth to repentance, is abused so as to lead to farther crimes! When men sin against 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 8:11

The verse states one of the results of God's forbearance in punishing the evil. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily. The verse begins with asher, "because," as in Ecclesiastes 4:3 ; Ecclesiastes 6:12 , which connects the sentence with the allegation of vanity just preceding, as well as with what follows. Pithgam, "sentence," "edict," is a foreign word of Persian origin, found in Esther 1:20 and in Chaldee portions of Ezra ( Ezra 4:17 ) and Daniel ( ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 8:11

Ecclesiastes 8:11. Because sentence against an evil work God’s determinate counsel for the punishment of all evil doers; is not executed speedily But is oftentimes delayed for some time, to give them space for repentance; therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them Hebrew, מלא לב , their heart is filled, or, as the LXX, render it επληροφορηθη καρδια is carried on with full sail, like a ship with a strong and violent wind; or, is bold, or presumptuous, as the same... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 8:11

11. The reason why the wicked persevere in sin: God's delay in judgment (Matthew 24:48-51; 2 Peter 3:8; 2 Peter 3:9). "They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire" [SOUTH], (2 Peter 3:9- :). Joab's escape from the punishment of his murder of Abner, so far from "leading him to repentance," as it ought (2 Peter 3:9- :), led him to the additional murder of Amasa. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

B. God’s Inscrutable Plan chs. 7-8Solomon proceeded in this section to focus on the comprehensive plan of God: His decree. His point was that we cannot fathom it completely. read more