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

This is what I know about people who are truly wise. They know how to explain things. Wisdom helps a person to be happy. It causes them to smile even when they have trouble. 2You promised God that you would serve the king faithfully. So obey the king's commands. 3If you are with the king, do not leave in a hurry. Do not join with people who plan turn against him. Remember that the king can do anything that he wants to do.

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 2:13I realized that it is better to be wise than foolish. In the same way, the light is better than the dark.
• 1 Corinthians 2:13Those are the things that we speak about. We do not use clever words to speak about human ideas. Instead, we speak the message that God's Spirit has taught us. In that way, we explain a spiritual message to people who have God's Spirit.
• Genesis 40:8They replied, ‘We both had dreams last night, but there is nobody to tell us what they mean.’ Joseph said, ‘Only God can tell you the meaning of dreams. Tell your dreams to me.’
• Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. But people have told me about you. They say that you can tell the meaning of dreams.’
• Job 33:23But perhaps an angel may come to help one of those people. He may speak on behalf of God, as a special angel among the many thousands of God's angels. The angel may tell that person how to live in a way that is right.
• Proverbs 1:6People will learn to understand what proverbs and picture stories mean. They will understand the teaching and clever messages of wise people.
• Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven. He explains secret things. In your dream, he has shown you what will happen in future years. Now I will tell you the dream and the visions that you had while you lay on your bed.
• Daniel 4:18Then I said to Belteshazzar, ‘This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, you must tell me what it means. None of the wise men in any region of my kingdom can tell me what it means. But you can tell me, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
• 2 Peter 1:20It is very important that you should understand this: The prophets' messages in the Bible did not come from their own ideas. That never happens.
• Exodus 34:29Moses came down from Sinai mountain. He carried the two stones of the covenant in his hands. As he came down the mountain, he did not know that his face was shining. His face was shining because he had spoken with the Lord.
• Proverbs 4:8Respect wisdom as very valuable, then she will make you great. If you make her your friend, she will give you honour.
• Proverbs 17:24A person who knows what is right can easily find wisdom. But a foolish person looks everywhere and never finds it.
• Proverbs 24:521. A wise man is better than a brave soldier. If a man learns knowledge, he will become stronger.
• Matthew 17:2Peter, James and John saw Jesus change in front of them. He became different to look at. His face was bright like the sun. His clothes became very white and they shone.
• Acts 6:15All the Jewish leaders who sat there in the meeting looked carefully at Stephen. They saw that his face was very bright, like the face of an angel.
• Deuteronomy 28:50They will have angry faces. They will not be kind to anyone, even old people and young children.

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