Ecclesiastes 10:5

Ecclesiastes 10:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
• New International Version (NIV)There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
• English Standard Version (ESV)There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
• New King James Version (NKJV)There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:5

3You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street! 4If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!

Ecclesiastes 10:5 word by word

יֵ֣שׁ רָעָ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ כִּשְׁגָגָ֕ה שֶׁיֹּצָ֖א מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַשַּׁלִּֽיט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• There isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• an evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• as an errorשְׁגָגָהshegâgâh · sin of errorH7684
• proceedethיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• fromפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the rulerשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · domineeringH7989

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:5

• Ecclesiastes 4:7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
• Ecclesiastes 5:13There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver.
• Ecclesiastes 6:1There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity.
• Ecclesiastes 9:3It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway.
• Ecclesiastes 3:16I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!
• Ecclesiastes 4:1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5An error which proceedeth from the ruler - What this error in the ruler is, the two following verses point out: it is simpiy this - an injudicious distribution of offices, and raising people to places of trust and confidence, who are destitute of merit, are neither of name nor family to excite public confidence, and are without property; so that they have no stake in the country, and their only solicitude must naturally be to enrich themselves, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7Giving power to those who cannot use it wisely is a big mistake. Favoritism, nepotism, extortion, and bribery can put reckless people in powerful positions.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. as--rather, "by reason of an error" [Maurer and Holden].Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:5

• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Ignorance
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings