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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness.

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:1

Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance. 2Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3Do 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.

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 saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
• 1 Corinthians 2:13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
• Genesis 40:8“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
• Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
• Job 33:23Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright,
• Proverbs 1:6for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
• Daniel 2:28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
• Daniel 4:18“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
• 2 Peter 1:20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
• Exodus 34:29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.
• Proverbs 4:8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
• Proverbs 17:24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
• Proverbs 24:5The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
• Matthew 17:2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
• Acts 6:15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
• Deuteronomy 28:50a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.

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