Ecclesiastes 8:11

Ecclesiastes 8:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
• New International Version (NIV)When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:11

9All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt. 10So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. 13But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 word by word

אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵין־נַעֲשָׂ֣ה פִתְגָ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה מְהֵרָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֡ן מָלֵ֞א לֵ֧ב בְּֽנֵי־הָאָדָ֛ם בָּהֶ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָֽע׃Read the interlinear

• Becauseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• sentenceפִּתְגָּםpithgâm · edictH6599
• against an evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• deedמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deedH4639
• is not executedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• quicklyמְהֵרָהmehêrâh · hasteH4120
• thereforeעַל‛al · uponH5921
• thereforeכֵּןkên · soH3651
• the heartsלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• among them are givenמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
• evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Exodus 8:15But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
• Job 21:11They send forth their little ones like the flock, And their children skip about.
• Psalms 10:6He says to himself, “I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.”
• Psalms 50:21These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
• Isaiah 5:18Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes;
• Isaiah 26:10Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the Lord.
• Jeremiah 48:11“Moab has been at ease since his youth; He has also been undisturbed, like wine on its dregs, And he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into exile. Therefore he retains his flavor, And his aroma has not changed.
• Matthew 24:49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;
• Romans 2:4Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
• 2 Peter 3:3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
• Jeremiah 42:15then in that case listen to the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “If you really set your mind to enter Egypt and go in to reside there,

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Because sentence - פתגם pithgam, a Divine decree or declaration. This is no Hebrew, but a mere Chaldee word, and occurs only in the later books of the Bible - Esther, Ezra and Daniel, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which leadeth to repentance, is abused so as to lead to farther…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-13Verses 9-13 Solomon observed, that many a time one man rules over another to his hurt, and that prosperity hardens them in their wickedness. Sinners herein deceive themselves. Vengeance comes slowly, but it comes surely. A good man's days have some substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked man's days are all as a shadow, empty and worthless. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real, and all-important.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11In this world, unfairness often wins. It can be frustrating when bad people seem to succeed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The reason why the wicked persevere in sin: God's delay in judgment (Mt 24:48-51; 2Pe 3:8, 9). "They see not the smoke of the pit, therefore they dread not the fire" [South], (Psa 55:19). Joab's escape from the punishment of his murder of Abner, so far from "leading him to repentance," as it ought (Ro 2:4), led him to the additional murder of Amasa.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:11

• Depravity of Man
• God Continued...
• Heart
• Impenitence
• Punishment
• Security
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Ecclesiastes, the Preacher
• 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