Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:4
4For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
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
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. For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. 6For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person’s troubles are heavy on him.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:4 word by word
בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּבַר־מֶ֖לֶךְ שִׁלְט֑וֹן וּמִ֥י יֹֽאמַר־ל֖וֹ מַֽה־תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:4
- 1 Kings 2:25Then King Solomon dispatched Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.
- Proverbs 19:12A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 20:2A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.
- Proverbs 30:31a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king at the head of his army.
- Daniel 3:15Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire — and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
- Luke 12:4“I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.
- Romans 13:1Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
- Job 33:12But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.
- Job 34:18who says to a king, “Worthless man!” and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?
- Romans 9:20On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
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
In the dictionaries
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
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