Ecclesiastes 8:3

Ecclesiastes 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:3

1Who is really wise? Who knows how to explain things? Wisdom makes one’s face shine, and it changes one’s grim look. 2I ⌞advise⌟ you to obey the king’s commands because of the oath you took in God’s presence. Don’t be in a hurry to leave the king’s service. Don’t take part in something evil, because he can do whatever he pleases. 4Since a king’s word has such power, no one can ask him what he is doing. 5Whoever obeys his commands will avoid trouble. The mind of a wise person will know the right time and the right way ⌞to act⌟.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 word by word

אַל־תִּבָּהֵ֤ל מִפָּנָיו֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּדָבָ֣ר רָ֑ע כִּ֛י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַחְפֹּ֖ץ יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Be not hastyבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
• to go outיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• of his sightפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• not in an evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: caseH1697
• for he doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• whatsoever pleasethחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler becomes angry with you, don’t resign your position. If you remain calm, you can make up for serious offenses.
• Proverbs 14:29A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.
• 1 Kings 1:50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went ⌞to the tent of meeting,⌟ and took hold of the horns of the altar.
• 1 Kings 2:21She replied, “Let Abishag from Shunem be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
• Isaiah 48:4I know that you are stubborn. Like iron, you are hardheaded. Like bronze, nothing gets through your thick skull.
• Jeremiah 44:16“We won’t listen to the message that you have spoken to us in the Lord’s name.
• Acts 5:8So Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?” She answered, “Yes, that was the price.”
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s anger announces death, but a wise man makes peace with him.
• Proverbs 30:31a strutting rooster, a male goat, a king at the head of his army.
• Daniel 4:35Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”
• Daniel 5:19People from every province, nation, and language trembled and were terrified by him, because God gave him power. Nebuchadnezzar killed whomever he wanted to kill, and he kept alive whomever he wanted to keep alive. He promoted whomever he wanted to promote, and he demoted whomever he wanted to demote.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Be not hasty - I consider the first five verses here as directions to courtiers, and the more immediate servants of kings. Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. Do not stand in an evil thing. If you have done wrong, do not endeavor to vindicate yourself before him; it is of no use; his power is absolute, and he will do what he pleases. He will take his own view of the subject, and he will retain it. The language of a despotic sovereign was ever this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Stand not … - i. e., “Do not persist in rebellion.”Read the comment
• 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. 33. hasty--rather, "Be not terror-struck so as to go out of His sight." Slavishly "terror-struck" is characteristic of the sinner's feeling toward God; he vainly tries to flee out of His sight (Psa 139:7); opposed to the "shining face" of filial confidence (Ec 8:1; Joh 8:33-36; Ro 8:2; 1Jo 4:18). stand not--persist not. for he doeth--God inflicts what punishment He pleases on persisting sinners (Job 23:13; Psa 115:3). True of none save God.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Citizens
• King
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Evil Thing
• 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