Revised Literal Translation
Ecclesiastes 8:1
1Who 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.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 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.
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:1
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. 2I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:1 word by word
מִ֚י כְּהֶ֣חָכָ֔ם וּמִ֥י יוֹדֵ֖עַ פֵּ֣שֶׁר דָּבָ֑ר חָכְמַ֤ת אָדָם֙ תָּאִ֣יר פָּנָ֔יו וְעֹ֥ז פָּנָ֖יו יְשֻׁנֶּֽא׃Read the interlinear
- 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 excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
- Genesis 40:8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
- Genesis 41:15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
- Job 33:23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
- Proverbs 1:6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
- Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
- Daniel 4:18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the Spirit of the Holy God is in thee.
- 2 Peter 1:20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
- Exodus 34:29And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
- Proverbs 4:8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
- Proverbs 17:24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
- Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
- Matthew 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Acts 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
- Deuteronomy 28:50A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour 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
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Ecclesiastes 8:1 the boldness: Heb. the strength. ↩
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries