Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 8:4
4Since the word of a king has authority, who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
Ecclesiastes 8:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
- New International Version (NIV)Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”
Context of Ecclesiastes 8:4
2I say: “Obey the king’s command, and especially in regard to the oath of God. 3Do not be hasty to rush out of his presence. Do not stand up for an evil cause, because he will do whatever he desires. Since 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. 6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person’s trouble is heavy upon him.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Ecclesiastes 8:4 word by word
בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּבַר־מֶ֖לֶךְ שִׁלְט֑וֹן וּמִ֥י יֹֽאמַר־ל֖וֹ מַֽה־תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 8:4
- 1 Kings 2:25Then King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He struck him down and he died.
- Proverbs 19:12A king’s wrath is like a roaring lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is like a lion’s growl. Whoever provokes him endangers his life.
- Proverbs 30:31a strutting rooster, a male-goat, and a king with his army around him.
- Daniel 3:15Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and pipes and all kinds of music you must fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire! Then what god will be able to deliver you out of my hands?”
- Luke 12:4“I say to you, My friends, you should not be afraid of those who kill the body, since after this they have nothing more they can do.
- Romans 13:1Let every person submit himself to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are put in place by God.
- Job 33:12“But in this, you are not right— I answer you, for God is greater than a mortal.
- Job 34:18Who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men’!
- Romans 9:20But who in the world are you, O man, who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 8:4
- 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. 44. God's very "word" is "power." So the gospel word (Ro 1:16; He 4:12). who may say, &c.--(Job 9:12; 33:13; Is 45:9; Da 4:35). Scripture does not ascribe such arbitrary power to earthly kings.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 8:4
In the dictionaries
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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