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.
• New International Version (NIV)Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.
• 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 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 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. 2I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. 3Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

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 2:13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
• 1 Corinthians 2:13These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
• Genesis 40:8And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
• Genesis 41:15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”
• Job 33:23“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
• Proverbs 1:6To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
• Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
• Daniel 4:18“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
• 2 Peter 1:20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
• Exodus 34:29Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
• Proverbs 4:8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
• Proverbs 17:24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
• Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
• Matthew 17:2and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
• Acts 6:15And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
• Deuteronomy 28:50a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to 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
• 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