Ecclesiastes 8:4

Ecclesiastes 8:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
• New International Version (NIV)Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:4

2I counsel thee, Keep the king’s command, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth time and judgment: 6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:

Ecclesiastes 8:4 word by word

בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּבַר־מֶ֖לֶךְ שִׁלְט֑וֹן וּמִ֥י יֹֽאמַר־ל֖וֹ מַֽה־תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear

• king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:4

• 1 Kings 2:25And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him, so that he died.
• Proverbs 19:12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
• Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
• Proverbs 30:31The greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
• Daniel 3:15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?
• Luke 12:4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
• Romans 13:1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.
• Job 33:12Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.
• Job 34:18Himthat saith to a king, Thou art vile, Orto nobles, Ye arewicked;
• Romans 9:20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4It is pointless to plot against the king because he has great power and can do anything he wants.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. God's very "word" is "power." So the gospel word (Ro 1:16; He 4:12). who may say, &c.--(Job 9:12; 33:13; Is 45:9; Da 4:35). Scripture does not ascribe such arbitrary power to earthly kings.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:4

• Citizens
• King
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings