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THE MESSAGE
Ecclesiastes 8:1
Bible Study Resources
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- ChipParallel Translations
Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
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.
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.
Who is like the wise person and who knows the meaning of a matter? A person's wisdom illuminates his face and makes his stern face brighten up.
No one is like the wise person who can understand what things mean. Wisdom brings happiness; it makes sad faces happy.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines his face, And causes his stern face to beam.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisedome of a man doth make his face to shine: and the strength of his face shalbe changed.
Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern face to beam.
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
Who is smart enough to explain everything? Wisdom makes you cheerful and gives you a smile.
Who can be compared with a wise person? Who else knows what a thing means? Wisdom lights up the face and softens a grim appearance.
Who is as the wise? and who knoweth the explanation of things? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
No one can understand and explain things the way wise people can. Their wisdom makes them happy. It changes a sad face into a happy one.
WHO is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A mans wisdom makes his face to shine, but he who is impudent shall be hated.
Only the wise know what things really mean. Wisdom makes them smile and makes their frowns disappear.
Who is like the sage? Who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is as the wise? And who knows the meaning of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.
where as no man hath wy?dome & vnderstodinge, to geue answere there vnto. Wy?dome maketh a mas face to shyne, but malice putteth it out of fauoure.
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 hardness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? and to whom is the sense of anything clear? A man's wisdom makes his face shining, and his hard face will be changed.
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 is changed.
Who is as the Wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a mans wisedome maketh his face to shine, and the boldnes of his face shalbe changed.
Who is wise? who hath knowledge to make an aunswere? A mans wysdome maketh his face to shine: but vnshamefastnes putteth it out of fauour.
Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying?
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 hardness of his face is changed.
The wisdom of a man schyneth in his cheer; and the myytieste schal chaunge his face.
Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man makes his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
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.
Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.
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.
How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its harshness.
Who is like the wise man? And who understands the meaning of anything? A man's wisdom makes his face shine. The hard look on his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed.
Who is really a wise man, and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man, lighteth up his countenance, but, by defiance of countenance, one is disfigured.
The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed.
Who [is] as the wise? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of man causeth his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
as the: Ecclesiastes 2:13, Ecclesiastes 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:13-16
who knoweth: Genesis 40:8, Genesis 41:15, Genesis 41:16, Genesis 41:38, Genesis 41:39, Job 33:23, Proverbs 1:6, Daniel 2:28-30, Daniel 2:47, Daniel 4:18, Daniel 4:19, 2 Peter 1:20
a man's: Exodus 34:29, Exodus 34:30, Proverbs 4:8, Proverbs 4:9, Proverbs 17:24, Proverbs 24:5, Matthew 17:2, Acts 6:15
and the: Deuteronomy 28:50, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Ephesians 6:19
boldness: Heb. strength, 2 Timothy 4:17
Reciprocal: Exodus 34:35 - General Psalms 104:15 - oil to make his Proverbs 12:8 - commended Proverbs 24:23 - things James 3:13 - is a
Cross-References
He sent out a raven; it flew back and forth waiting for the floodwaters to dry up. Then he sent a dove to check on the flood conditions, but it couldn't even find a place to perch—water still covered the Earth. Noah reached out and caught it, brought it back into the ship.
Noah built an altar to God . He selected clean animals and birds from every species and offered them as burnt offerings on the altar. God smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to himself, "I'll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I'll never again kill off everything living as I've just done.
For as long as Earth lasts, planting and harvest, cold and heat, Summer and winter, day and night will never stop."
And that's the story: When God destroyed the Cities of the Plain, he was mindful of Abraham and first got Lot out of there before he blasted those cities off the face of the Earth.
And then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and had a son. She said, "God has taken away my humiliation." She named him Joseph (Add), praying, "May God add yet another son to me."
God listened to their groanings. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and God , with a terrific east wind all night long, made the sea go back. He made the sea dry ground. The seawaters split.
God 's angel said to him: "Why have you beaten your poor donkey these three times? I have come here to block your way because you're getting way ahead of yourself. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you by this time, but not the donkey. I would have let her off."
Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.
Remember me, O my God, for this. Don't ever forget the devoted work I have done for The Temple of God and its worship.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Who is as the wise [man]?.... Who is as the first man, that was made upright, and was a wise man? not one of his sons. Or who is as the wise man, meaning himself? no man; he was the wisest of men; and yet he could not find out wisdom, and the reason of things, and the wickedness of folly, Ecclesiastes 7:25; how therefore should any other man? what can the man do that comes after the king? Or who is like to a wise man, to he compared to him for honour and dignity? none; not those of the highest birth and blood, of the greatest wealth and riches, or in the highest places of power and authority; a wise man is above them, they being without wisdom; and especially such as are wise to salvation; these are the excellent in the earth, and the most worthy among men. Or who is a truly wise man? is there really such a person in the world, that has got to the perfection of wisdom? not one; and very few they are that can, in a true and proper sense, be called wise men. The Targum is,
"who is a wise man, that can stand against the wisdom of the Lord?''
and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? or "a word" q? the word of God, which is not of private interpretation? none know it rightly, but such who have the Spirit of God, the enditer of the word: Christ is the interpreter, one among a thousand; and, next to him are those who have his mind, and rightly divide the word of truth. The Targum is,
"and to know the interpretation of the words in the prophets:''
this may be understood of the solution of any difficulties in things natural or civil; and of the interpretation of any of the works of God, either in nature or providence, as well as of his word; and he is a wise man, that not only has wisdom in himself, but is able to teach others, and make them wise; can solve doubts, remove difficulties, interpret nature, the works and word of God. Aben Ezra repeats the note of similitude from the former clause, and so it may be rendered, "Who is as he that knows the interpretation of a thing", or "word?" such an one as Solomon was, Proverbs 1:6;
a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine: as Moses, when he came down from the mount, full fraught with the knowledge of the will of God,
Exodus 34:29; and as Stephen, whose wisdom and spirit, by which he spoke, were irresistible, Acts 6:10; wisdom, which discovers itself in a man's words and actions, gives comeliness to his person, makes him look amiable and lovely in the eyes of others: or, it "enlightens his face" r; by it he is able to see the difference between truth and falsehood, and what is to be done and not done; what way he should walk in, and what he should shun and avoid;
and the boldness of his face shall be changed; the ferocity and austerity of his countenance, the impudence and inhumanity that appeared in him before, through his wisdom and knowledge, are changed into meekness, gentleness, and humanity; of an impudent, fierce, and badly behaved man, he becomes meek, modest, affable, and humane; this effect natural wisdom and knowledge has on men s; and much more spiritual and evangelical wisdom, which comes from above, and is first pure, then peaceable and gentle, James 3:17. Some read it, "the strength of his face shall be doubled", or "renewed" t; he shall be changed into the same image, from glory to glory; his spiritual strength shall be renewed, and his light and knowledge increase yet more and more, 2 Corinthians 3:18. But Gussetius u renders it, his "boldness", or impudence, "shall be hated".
q ××ר "verbi", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus. r ת××ר ×¤× ×× "illustrati", Vatablus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus "illuminat", Cocceius, Gejerus, Rambachius, so Broughton. s "Adde quod ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes, emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros", Ovid. de Ponto, l. 2. Eleg. 9. t ×ש×× × "duplicatur", Junius Tremellius, Varenius "instauratur", Cocceius, Gejerus. u Ebr. Comment. p. 595. so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And 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).
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER VIII
A man's wisdom makes his face shine, 1.
Kings are to be greatly respected, 2-4.
Of him who keeps the commandment; of the misery of man; of the
certainty of death, 5-8.
Of him that rules another to his own hurt, 9.
The end of the wicked, 10.
God's longsuffering, 11, 12.
It shall be ill with wicked men, 13.
Strange events in the course of Providence, 14, 15.
God's works cannot be found out, 16, 17.
NOTES ON CHAP. VIII
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:1. Who 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 the preceding chapter. Who has ever been deceived in the appearance of the face that belonged to a savage heart? Those who represent, by painting or otherwise, a wise man, with a gravely sour face, striking awe and forbidding approach, have either mistaken the man, or are unacquainted with some essential principles of their art.
The boldness of his face shall be changed. — Instead of ××©× × yeshunne, which signifies shall be hated, many of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have ××©× × yeshunneh, shall be changed or doubled. Hence the verse might be read, "The wisdom of a man shall illuminate his face; and the strength of his countenance shall be doubled." He shall speak with full confidence and conviction on a subject which he perfectly understands, and all will feel the weight of his observations.
