Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:3

Be not hasty to go out of his sight, in disobedience or slavish terror; stand not in an evil thing, literally, "in an evil word," that is, it behooves the subject to be modest, yet firm, in the presence of the ruler, even if he speak an angry word; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him, the author, of course, having in mind the absolute authority of Oriental monarchs. It is surely a proof of great wisdom if a person can so conduct himself before such a potentate as to hold his own, giving way neither to terror nor to obstinacy.

Continues after advertising

See also Ecclesiastes 8:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ecclesiastes 8:3. _BE NOT HASTY_] I consider the first _five_ verses here as directions to _courtiers_, and the more immediate servants of kings. Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. _Do no...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    STAND NOT ... - i. e., “Do not persist in rebellion.”...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ 2. Of the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 8:11) 3. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    MAXIMS ON WISDOM AND GOVERNMENT. Ecclesiastes 8:1. Wisdom (like prayer and self-sacrifice; _cf._ Luke 9:29) transfigures the countenance, it takes the hardness or coarseness out of the face. Ecclesia...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Be not hasty to go out of his sight_ The phrase is explained by Genesis 4:16; Hosea 11:2 as implying flight or desertion. Such a flight the Teacher looks on as an act of impatient unwisdom. It is bet...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I COUNSEL THEE TO KEEP, &C.— _I tell thee, observe thou the king's face; nay, mind it in regard to the oath: be not hasty:_ Ecclesiastes 8:3. _Go out of his presence; stay not whilst he gives wrong or...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. ADMONITIONS TO USE WISDOM IN THE WORK OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE 8:19:18 1. Work in submission to the king. Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 TEXT 8:1-8 1 Who is like the wise man and who knows the inter...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. BE NOT HASTY. The Hebrew (Niphal voice: tibaaheel (H926)) means literally, 'Be not terror-stru...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    KINGS'COURTS NEED WARY WALKING 1-17. Be discreet in relation with a ruler. God's purpose must be carried out. His rule must be righteous, though this is often not seen in actual life. God's ways are...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BE NOT HASTY] Do not rashly throw up office. STAND, etc.] RV 'persist.' Do not take sides with the ruler's open or covert enemies. The expression, however, in the Heb. is obscure, probably of set inte...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 8 THE WISE WAY TO OBEY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY – ECCLESIASTES 8:1-9...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I believe the rendering of our version to be correct, though some have taken it, “Be not hasty: go out of his eight.” The best commentary on this verse is Ecclesiastes 10:4, which gives the meaning, “...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אַל ־תִּבָּהֵ֤ל מִ פָּנָיו֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ אַֽל ־תּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THIRD SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Wealth, And In The Golden Mean Ecclesiastes 6:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1, and Ecclesiastes 8:1 IN the foregoing Section Coheleth has shown that the C

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Ecclesiastes 8:1 THE QUEST IN THE GOLDEN MEAN. Ecclesiastes 7:1; Ecclesiastes 8:1 There be many that say, "Who will show us any gold?" mistaking gold for their god or good. For though th

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    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. The...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (d) Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatever pleaseth him. (d) Do not withdraw from yourself lightly from the obedience of your prince....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Face. This courtiers observe, while many Christians neglect God. --- Work. Defend not what has been said or done amiss._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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) Whe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BE NOT HASTY TO GO OUT OF HIS SIGHT,.... But of the sight of the King of kings. Do not think to hide thyself from him, for there is no fleeing from his presence, Psalms 139:7; it is best, when under s...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Ver. 3. _Be not hasty to go out of his sight._] Turn not thy back discontentedly, fling not away...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Ecc. 8:2-5 Ecc. 8:2-5. There is a remarkable agreement between what is said in these verses and that which is said by the Apostle in Romans 13:1-5. Here verse 2 agrees with Romans 13:5; verses 3 and...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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 G...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "'DO NOT BE IN. HURRY TO LEAVE HIM. DO NOT JOIN IN AN EVIL MATTER, FOR HE WILL DO WHATEVER HE PLEASES.'"IN. HURRY TO LEAVE HIM" -Which would include the need for proper decorum and respect while in hi...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 arigh...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    TO GO OUT OF HIS SIGHT, Heb. _to go from his face or presence_, to wit, in dislike, or in discontent, withdrawing thyself from thy king's service or obedience, as malcontents use to do; for this will...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 8:3 hasty H926 (H8735) go H3212 (H8799) presence H6440 stand H5975 (H8799) evil H7451 thing...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER 8 ADVICE WITH REGARD TO SERVING THE KING. THE PROBLEM OF THE DEATH OF THE WICKED. His survey now digresses to consider a wise man's responsibility when serving the king, followed by a number...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ADVICE WITH REGARD TO A WISE MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY IN SERVING THE KING (ECCLESIASTES 8:1). We must not interpret these verses without regard to what we know about this king. His instruction will surely...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 7:19-8 Koheleth seems to have had a suspicion all the time that his view of life was a low one. He intimates that he had tried for a better, but failed to reach it: "I said, I will be wis...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Wisdom recommended as an antidote against the temptations and vexations arising from the vanity of the world. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: Heavenly wisdom makes a man a good man, e...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 8:1. _Who is as the wise man; and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?_ In the Vulgate these two questions end the seventh chapter, to which they evidently belong. Placing them at t...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 8:1 More on Life “Under the Sun.” The Preacher continues his observations on life in a fallen world. He gives appropriate counsel for living wisely....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 8:3 BE NOT HASTY TO GO FROM HIS PRESENCE. When a king gives an unwise command, his counselor should not necessarily leave his service. At the same time, the counselor...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 8:1. THE BOLDNESS OF HIS FACE SHALL BE CHANGED.] Folly, in the form of selfishness, imparts a fierce aspect to the features; but wisdom graces them with a superior refin...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 8:1 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_._ _Howeve...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandmen...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:21; Acts 5:8; Acts 5:9; Daniel 4:35;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    To go — In discontent, withdrawing thyself from the king's service or obedience. Stand not — if thou hast offended him, persist not in it. For — His power is uncontrollable....

Continues after advertising