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Contemporary English Version

Ecclesiastes 8:4

The king's word is law. No one can ask him, "Why are you doing this?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Citizens;   King;   Rulers;   The Topic Concordance - Discerning;   Government;   Heart;   Obedience;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Head, Headship;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ecclesiastes;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Death, Angel of;   Gentile;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for August 28;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
Hebrew Names Version
for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
King James Version
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
English Standard Version
For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
New American Standard Bible
Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"
New Century Version
What the king says is law; no one tells him what to do.
Amplified Bible
For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful, And who will say to him, "What are you doing?"
World English Bible
for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Where the word of ye King is, there is power, and who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
Legacy Standard Bible
Since the word of the king is powerful, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"
Berean Standard Bible
For the king's word is supreme, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Complete Jewish Bible
After all, his word is final; who can challenge him, "Why are you doing that?"
Darby Translation
because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Easy-to-Read Version
He has the authority to give commands, and no one can tell him what to do.
George Lamsa Translation
In what manner the king speaks is lawful; and who can say to him, What are you doing?
Good News Translation
The king acts with authority, and no one can challenge what he does.
Lexham English Bible
Since the word of the king is supreme, no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"
Literal Translation
Because the king's word is that which has power; who then will say to him, What are you doing?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Like as when a kynge geueth a charge, his commaundement is mightie: Euen so who maye saye vnto him: what doest thou?
American Standard Version
For the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Bible in Basic English
The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Forasmuch as the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him: 'What doest thou?'
King James Version (1611)
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say vnto him, What doest thou?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Like as when a king geueth a charge, his commaundement is mightie: Euen so, who may say vnto him, what doest thou?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou?
English Revised Version
Because the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and his word is ful of power, and no man mai seie to hym, Whi doist thou so?
Update Bible Version
For the king's word [has] power; and who may say to him, What are you doing?
Webster's Bible Translation
Where the word of a king [is], [there is] power: and who may say to him, what doest thou?
New English Translation
Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"
New King James Version
Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
New Living Translation
His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.
New Life Bible
Since the king's word is powerful, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"
New Revised Standard
For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Where the word of a king is, there is power, - who then may say to him, What wouldst thou do?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?
Revised Standard Version
For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
Young's Literal Translation
Where the word of a king [is] power [is], and who saith to him, `What dost thou?'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"

Contextual Overview

1 Who is smart enough to explain everything? Wisdom makes you cheerful and gives you a smile. 2 If you promised God that you would be loyal to the king, I advise you to keep that promise. 3 Don't quickly oppose the king or argue when he has already made up his mind. 4 The king's word is law. No one can ask him, "Why are you doing this?" 5 If you obey the king, you will stay out of trouble. So be smart and learn what to do and when to do it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the word: 1 Kings 2:25, 1 Kings 2:29-34, 1 Kings 2:46, Proverbs 19:12, Proverbs 20:2, Proverbs 30:31, Daniel 3:15, Luke 12:4, Luke 12:5, Romans 13:1-4

What: Job 33:12, Job 33:13, Job 34:18, Job 34:19, Romans 9:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:18 - Why have 2 Samuel 16:10 - Who shall 2 Samuel 24:4 - the king's 1 Kings 21:7 - Dost thou now 1 Chronicles 21:4 - the king's Esther 8:10 - in the king Proverbs 30:32 - lay Matthew 7:29 - having Hebrews 1:3 - the word

Cross-References

Genesis 8:17
Let out the birds, animals, and reptiles, so they can mate and live all over the earth."
Genesis 8:19
the living creatures left in groups of their own kind.
2 Kings 19:37
One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, when his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords. They escaped to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon became king.
Isaiah 37:38
One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, when his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with their swords. They escaped to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon became king.
Jeremiah 51:27
The Lord said: Signal the nations to get ready to attack. Raise a flag and blow a trumpet. Send for the armies of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Choose a commander; let the cavalry attack like a swarm of locusts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Where the word of a king [is, there is] power,.... Or "dominion" z. Authority goes along with his word of command; and there is an inferior magistracy, a subordinate power under him, ready to execute his will upon the rebellious and disobedient. Jarchi interprets it, the word of the holy blessed God; and the Targum, the word of that King who rules over all the world; where his word of doctrine comes, not in word only, it is with power: his written word is quick and powerful; the word of his Gospel preached is the power of God to salvation; or is accompanied with power to enlighten dark minds, quicken dead sinners, unstop deaf ears, soften hard hearts, and deliver men from the slavery of sin and Satan; it makes men, of enemies, friends to God, Christ, and good men; transforms them by the renewing of their minds, and comforts and establishes saints; all which is attributed to the word; and are the effects of almighty power, Hebrews 4:12; his word of command also comes with power, being clothed with his authority; and is submitted to by his people in the day of his power upon them, who readily and cheerfully obey it;

and who may say unto him, what dost thou? call him to an account for, or complain of any of his works of creation, providence, or grace? This best agrees with God than with an earthly king; and is said of him elsewhere, Job 9:12.

z שלטון "imperium", Montanus, Rambachius; "dominatio", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius.


 
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