Ecclesiastes 8:14

Ecclesiastes 8:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
• New International Version (NIV)There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:14

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. There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. 15So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. 16When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night),

Ecclesiastes 8:14 word by word

יֶשׁ־הֶבֶל֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֣ה עַל־הָאָרֶץ֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ יֵ֣שׁ צַדִּיקִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַגִּ֤יעַ אֲלֵהֶם֙ כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים וְיֵ֣שׁ רְשָׁעִ֔ים שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים אָמַ֕רְתִּי שֶׁגַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear

• Thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• is futilityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• is doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• happensנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• according to the deedsמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deedH4639
• of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• to whomשֶׁלshel · whichH7945
• I sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• that thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• tooגַּםgam · alsoH1571

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:14

• Ecclesiastes 4:4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
• Ecclesiastes 10:5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.
• Ecclesiastes 7:15I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.
• Job 9:22It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
• Job 21:17“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?
• Job 24:21He wrongs the barren woman And does no good for the widow.
• Psalms 73:13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;
• Malachi 3:15So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’”

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14There be just men - See on Ecclesiastes 7:16; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Which is done upon the earth - The instance of vanity, to which these words are applied, is the seeming inequality of God‘s justice; but if they are considered in connection with the profession of personal faith in God‘s absolute justice Ecclesiastes 8:12, the conclusion is irresistible, that, whatever reason the Preacher had for reserve in declaring his belief, he certainly looked forward to final judgment in a future state of existence (compare…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-17Verses 14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene, where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomon commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have us try to give a reason for what God does…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. An objection is here started (entertained by Solomon in his apostasy), as in Ec 3:16; 7:15, to the truth of retributive justice, from the fact of the just and the wicked not now receiving always according to their respective deserts; a cavil, which would seem the more weighty to men living under the Mosaic covenant of temporal sanctions. The objector adds, as Solomon had said, that the worldling's pursuits are "vanity" (Ec 8:10), "I say (not 'said')…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Discern
• Discharge
• Feel
• Hasty
• Heart
• Set
• Happen
• 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