English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 8:4
4For the word of the king is supreme, and who may 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?”
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:4
2I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?" 5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies 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 2:25So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
- Proverbs 19:12A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
- Proverbs 30:31the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.
- Daniel 3:15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
- Luke 12:4"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
- Romans 13:1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
- Job 33:12"Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
- Job 34:18who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
- Romans 9:20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries