Ecclesiastes 8:1

Ecclesiastes 8:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
• New International Version (NIV)Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed. 2Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God. 3Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants.

Ecclesiastes 8:1 word by word

מִ֚י כְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔ם וּמִ֥י יוֹדֵ֖עַ פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר חָכְמַ֤ת אָדָם֙ תָּאִ֣יר פָּנָ֔יו וְעֹ֥ז פָּנָ֖יו יְשֻׁנֶּֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• as the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• and who knowethיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the interpretationפֵּ֫שֶׁרpêsher · interpretationH6592
• of a thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• a man’sאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• maketh his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• to shineאוֹר'ôr · to lightH215
• and the boldnessעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
• shall be changedשָׁנָאshânâ' · to changeH8132

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:1

• Ecclesiastes 2:13And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.
• 1 Corinthians 2:13We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
• Genesis 40:8“We had dreams,” they said to him, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
• Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”
• Job 33:23If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him
• Proverbs 1:6for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.
• Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay in bed were these:
• Daniel 4:18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me. But you can, because you have a spirit of the holy gods.”
• 2 Peter 1:20Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,
• Exodus 34:29As Moses descended from Mount Sinai — with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain — he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord.
• Proverbs 4:8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
• Proverbs 17:24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth.
• Proverbs 24:5A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
• Matthew 17:2He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.
• Acts 6:15And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
• Deuteronomy 28:50a ruthless nation, showing no respect for the old and not sparing the young.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Who knoweth the interpretation - פשר pesher, a pure Chaldee word, found nowhere else in the Bible but in the Chaldee parts of Daniel. "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine." Every state of the heart shines through the countenance; but there is such an evidence of the contented, happy, pure, benevolent state of the soul in the face of a truly pious man, that it must be observed, and cannot be mistaken. In the Hebrew the former clause of this verse ends…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And who - Rather, and as he who knoweth. The possessor of wisdom excels other people: it imparts serenity to his countenance, and removes the expression of gloom or fierceness (see the marginal reference).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Commendations of wisdom. (Eccl. 8:1-5) To prepare for sudden evils and death. (Eccl. 8:6-8) It shall be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked. (Eccl. 8:9-13) Mysteries of Providence. (Eccl. 8:14-17) Verses 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 aright from his truths and dispensations? What…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1the sternness of his face is changed: Anxiety, anger, sorrow, and frustration can make a face look stern, but enjoying life and gaining wisdom will brighten it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-17Ec 8:1-17. 1. Praise of true wisdom continued (Ec 7:11, &c.). "Who" is to be accounted "equal to the wise man? ... Who (like him) knoweth the interpretation" of God's providences (for example, Ec 7:8, 13, 14), and God's word (for example, see on Ec 7:29; Pr 1:6)? face to shine--(Ec 7:14; Ac 6:15). A sunny countenance, the reflection of a tranquil conscience and serene mind. Communion with God gives it (Ex 34:29, 30). boldness--austerity. changed--into a…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:1

• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Hard; Hardiness; Harddiness; Hardly
• Harden
• 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