Ecclesiastes 14:28

Nova Vulgata

In multitudine populi dignitas regis, et in paucitate plebis ruina principis.

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
In multitudine populi dignitas regis, et in paucitate plebis ignominia principis.

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
In multitudine populi dignitas regis,
et in paucitate plebis ignominia principis.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Exodus 1:12, Exodus 1:22, 1 Kings 4:20, 1 Kings 4:21, 1 Kings 20:27, 2 Kings 10:32, 2 Kings 10:33, 2 Kings 13:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:9 - the people Exodus 5:5 - General 2 Samuel 19:7 - there 2 Samuel 24:3 - General 1 Chronicles 21:3 - The Lord Ezekiel 31:4 - waters 1 Corinthians 12:22 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In the multitude of people [is] the king's honour,.... For it is a sign of a good and wise government, of clemency and righteousness being exercised, of liberty and property being enjoyed, of peace, plenty, and prosperity; which encourage subjects to serve their king cheerfully, and to continue under his reign and government peaceably; and which invites others from different parts to come and settle there also; by which the strength and glory of a king are much increased. This is true of the King of kings, of Jesus Christ, who is King of saints; his honour and glory, as Mediator, lies in a large number of voluntary subjects, made "willing" to serve him "in the day of [his] power" upon them, as numerous as the drops of the morning "dew",

Psalms 110:3; such as he had in the first times of the Gospel, both among the Jews and among the Gentiles; and as he will have more especially in the latter day, when those prophecies shall be fulfilled in

Isaiah 60:4; and so this is interpreted of the King Messiah, in an ancient writing b of the Jews;

but in the want of people [is] the destruction of the prince; or, "the consternation" c of him; if his people are destroyed in wars his ambition or cruelty has led him to; or they are driven out from his kingdom by persecution or oppression; hence follows a decay of trade, and consequently of riches; lack of cultivation of land, and so want of provision: in course of time there is such a decrease, that, as there are but few to carry on trade and till the land, so to fight for their prince, and defend his country; wherefore, when attacked by a foreign power, he is thrown into the utmost consternation, and is brought to destruction. This will be the case of the prince of darkness, the man of sin, antichrist; who, though however populous he may be, or has been, ruling over tongues, people, and nations, yet before long he will be deserted by them; one nation after another will fall off from him; they and their kings will hate him, make him bare and desolate, and burn him with fire, Revelation 17:15. Some render it, "the consternation of leanness" d; such consternation as causes leanness in a king.

b Zohar in Exod. fol. 67. 3, 4. c מחתת "formidat princeps", Tigurine version; "consternatio", Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens. d "Consternatio macici", Gussetius, p. 785. "consternatio tabifica", Schultens; "contritio maciei", Gejerus; "terror tenuitatis", Mercerus, Gersom.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A protest against the false ideal of national greatness to which Eastern kings, for the most part, have bowed down. Not conquest, or pomp, or gorgeous array, but a happy and numerous people form the true glory of a king. The word translated “prince” is of doubtful meaning; but the translation is supported by the Septuagint, Vulg, and most commentators.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 14:28. In the multitude of people — It is the interest of every state to promote marriage by every means that is just and prudent; and to discourage, disgrace, and debase celibacy; to render bachelors incapable, after a given age, of all public employments: and to banish nunneries and monasteries from all parts of their dominions;-they have ever, from their invention, contributed more to vice than virtue; and are positively point blank against the law of God.