Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
Ecclesiastes 8:4
Where the word of a king is, there is power, for so his rule is established; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Where the word of a king is, there is power, for so his rule is established; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
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)...
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...
POWER. might, or control. Hebrew. _shilton._ Occurs only here and in Ecclesiastes 8:8....
_Where the word of a king is, there is power_ Better, FORASMUCH AS THE WORD OF A KING IS POWER, or rather AUTHORITY. The latter word in the Hebrew text is used in Chaldee as meaning a ruler, or potent...
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...
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...
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? WHERE THE WORD OF A (THE) KING (IS, THERE IS) POWER. God's very "Word" is "power." So the Gospel Word (; ). Mau...
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...
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...
POWER. — The word used here and Ecclesiastes 5:8, only occurs again in the Chaldee part of Daniel. In the latter part of the Hebrew verse is one of the many reminiscences of the work of Job (Job 9:12;...
בַּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּבַר ־מֶ֖לֶךְ שִׁלְטֹ֑ון וּ מִ֥
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
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
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...
_So? The eastern kings rule with absolute sway, Proverbs xvi. 14._...
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...
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...
WHERE THE WORD OF A KING [IS, THERE IS] POWER,.... Or "dominion" z. Authority goes along with his word of command; and there is an inferior magistracy, a subordinate power under him, ready to execute...
Where the word of a king [is, there is] power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Ver. 4. _Where the word of a king is, there is power._] _Ibi dominatio._ He hath long hands, and can reach th...
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...
_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...
"SINCE THE WORD OF THE KING IS AUTHORITATIVE, WHO WILL SAY TO HIM, 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?'" Of course this passage isn't teaching that the king can do anything he wants with God's approval. Rather, this...
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...
THERE IS POWER; whatsoever he commandeth he wants not power nor instruments to execute it, and therefore can easily punish thee as he pleaseth. WHO MAY SAY? Heb. _who shall say_ ? Who will presume or...
Ecclesiastes 8:4 word H1697 king H4428 power H7983 say H559 (H8799) doing H6213 (H8799) the word -...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
_Where the word of a king ii there is power._ THE KING’S WORD The reference is, doubtless, to certain kings who lived in ancient times, perchance, for instance, to Solomon himself. But we speak to-da...
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....
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON ECCLESIASTES 8:4 Given the power of kings, it takes a great deal of courage to question the wisdom of the king’s decision. The wise counselor, however, will find THE PROPER TIME A...
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...
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...
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...
1 Kings 2:25; 1 Kings 2:29; 1 Kings 2:46; Daniel 3:15; Job 33:12;...