Ecclesiastes 8:5

Ecclesiastes 8:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right,

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:5

3Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.” 4Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, 6Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly. 7For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?

Ecclesiastes 8:5 word by word

שׁוֹמֵ֣ר מִצְוָ֔ה לֹ֥א יֵדַ֖ע דָּבָ֣ר רָ֑ע וְעֵ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֔ט יֵדַ֖ע לֵ֥ב חָכָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoso keepethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• shall feelיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• no evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• and a wise man’sחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• both timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• and judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:5

• Ecclesiastes 5:2Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
• Exodus 1:17But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
• Psalms 119:6Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
• Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, Because he willingly walked by human precept.
• Luke 20:25And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
• Acts 4:19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
• Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
• Romans 13:5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
• 1 Peter 3:13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.
• Ecclesiastes 10:2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.
• 1 Chronicles 12:32of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
• 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.
• Luke 12:56Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
• 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Both time and judgment - It is a matter of great importance to be able to discern When and How both to speak and act; but when time and manner are both determined, the matter comes next. What shall I speak? What shall I do? When, how, and what answer to time, manner, and knitter. To discern all these, and act suitably, is a lesson for a philosopher, and a study for a Christian.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Feel - literally, know. The meaning is, “He who obeys the commandment (i. e., the word of the king, Ecclesiastes 8:4), will not be an accomplice in any act of rebellion; and if he be a wise man he discerns (literally knows) that the king‘s commandment or action is liable to correction, if it be wrong, in God‘s time and by God‘s judgment.” Compare Ecclesiastes 3:11, Ecclesiastes 3:17.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. feel--experience. time--the neglect of the right "times" causes much of the sinful folly of the spiritually unwise (Ec 3:1-11). judgment--the right manner [Holden]. But as God's future "judgment" is connected with the "time for every purpose" in Ec 3:17, so it is here. The punishment of persisting sinners (Ec 8:3) suggests it. The wise man realizes the fact, that as there is a fit "time" for every purpose, so for the "judgment." This thought cheers him…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:5

• King
• Righteous
• Wisdom

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