Ecclesiastes 10:4

Ecclesiastes 10:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
• New International Version (NIV)If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:4

2A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation]. 3Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses. 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler— 6folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 word by word

אִם־ר֤וּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁל֙ תַּעֲלֶ֣ה עָלֶ֔יךָ מְקוֹמְךָ֖ אַל־תַּנַּ֑ח כִּ֣י מַרְפֵּ֔א יַנִּ֖יחַ חֲטָאִ֥ים גְּדוֹלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If the spiritרוּחַrûach · spirit: temperH7307
• of the rulerמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• rise upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• against thee, leaveיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
• not thy placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• for yieldingמַרְפֵּאmarpê' · healingH4832
• greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• offencesחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:4

• Ecclesiastes 8:3Do not be in a hurry to get out of his presence. Do not join in a malevolent matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases.
• 1 Samuel 25:24Kneeling at his feet she said, “My lord, let the blame and guilt be on me alone. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant.
• Proverbs 25:15By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee - If the king get incensed against thee. Leave not thy place - Humble thyself before him, that is thy place and duty; for yielding to him, and not standing stoutly in thy defense, pacifieth great offenses: and then, when his anger is appeased, he will hear any thing in thy justification, if thou have any thing to offer. This is good advice to a child in reference to his parents, and to an inferior of any…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4If the spirit … - i. e., If he is angry. Leave not thy place - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4A ruler is anyone who has authority.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. spirit--anger. yielding pacifieth--(Pr 15:1). This explains "leave not thy place"; do not in a resisting spirit withdraw from thy post of duty (Ec 8:3).Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:4

• Citizens
• Loyalty
• Meekness

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Allay
• Meekness
• Offence; Offend
• Ruler
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings