Ecclesiastes 8:3

Ecclesiastes 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
• New International Version (NIV)Do 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.”

Context of Ecclesiastes 8:3

1Who is like the wise person? Who knows the meaning of a matter? A person’s wisdom makes his face shine, transforming the harshness of his face. 2I say: “Obey the king’s command, and especially in regard to the oath of God. Do not be hasty to rush out of his presence. Do not stand up for an evil cause, because he will do whatever he desires. 4Since the word of a king has authority, who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person’s heart discerns the proper time and procedure.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 word by word

אַל־תִּבָּהֵ֤ל מִפָּנָיו֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּדָבָ֣ר רָ֑ע כִּ֛י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַחְפֹּ֖ץ יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Be not hastyבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
• to go outיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• of his sightפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• not in an evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: caseH1697
• for he doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• whatsoever pleasethחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler’s spirit rises up against you, do not leave your post, for composure allays great offences.
• Proverbs 14:29One who is slow to anger shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one exalts folly.
• 1 Kings 1:50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he arose, went, and grasped the horns of the altar.
• 1 Kings 2:21So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
• Isaiah 48:4For I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is iron sinew, and your forehead bronze.
• Jeremiah 44:16“As for the word that you spoke to us in the Name of Adonai, we are not going to listen to you!
• Acts 5:8Peter responded to her, “Tell me if you sold the land for this much.” She said, “Yes, for that much.”
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s fury is like messengers of death, but a wise man will appease it.
• Proverbs 30:31a strutting rooster, a male-goat, and a king with his army around him.
• Daniel 5:19Because of the grandeur that He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and languages dreaded and feared him. He killed whomever he wanted and spared anyone he wanted; he raised up whomever he wished and humbled anyone he wished.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Be not hasty - I consider the first five verses here as directions to courtiers, and the more immediate servants of kings. Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. Do not stand in an evil thing. If you have done wrong, do not endeavor to vindicate yourself before him; it is of no use; his power is absolute, and he will do what he pleases. He will take his own view of the subject, and he will retain it. The language of a despotic sovereign was ever this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Stand not … - i. e., “Do not persist in rebellion.”Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4It is pointless to plot against the king because he has great power and can do anything he wants.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. hasty--rather, "Be not terror-struck so as to go out of His sight." Slavishly "terror-struck" is characteristic of the sinner's feeling toward God; he vainly tries to flee out of His sight (Psa 139:7); opposed to the "shining face" of filial confidence (Ec 8:1; Joh 8:33-36; Ro 8:2; 1Jo 4:18). stand not--persist not. for he doeth--God inflicts what punishment He pleases on persisting sinners (Job 23:13; Psa 115:3). True of none save God.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:3

• Citizens
• King
• Prudence

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