Bible Commentaries
Ecclesiastes 8

Verse 1

as = like.

who . . . ? Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), from the preceding line: "Who [is like him that] knoweth? "

interpretation = understanding.

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 8:1 , Proverbs 8:2 .

boldness = sternness.

Verse 2

I counsel thee: or I say, then, in regard of-on account of.

Verse 3

stand not = do not take thy stand. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulg, read, "and stand not".

Verse 4

power = might, or control. Hebrew. shilton. Occurs only here and in Ecclesiastes 8:8 .

Verse 5

feel = know.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'.

time and judgment = a time, yea, a judgment time. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

Verse 6

purpose. See note on Ecclesiastes 3:1 .

there is = there exists. Hebrew. yesh.

therefore the misery = when the evil.

great = heavy.

Verse 8

the spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Some render "wind" and refer to Ecclesiastes 11:5 .Proverbs 8:30 , Proverbs 8:4 .

discharge in that war = no furlough in the battle [of life].

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . Perhaps here = cunning: no cunning will save the wicked.

those that are given to it = its possessors.

Verse 9

under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .

there is a time wherein = sometimes.

Verse 10

I saw = I have seen.

the wicked = lawless men (plural) Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

come and gone. Supply the complex Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "I have seen wicked men come [to the grave; and righteous men] depart [in death, Genesis 15:2 ] from the place of the holy, and be forgotten", &c.

Verse 12

days. Supply the Ellipsis by "evil-doing".

God . Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God: the Deity.

Verse 14

upon the earth. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:2 .

just = righteous.

Verse 16

business = travail.

for also there is, &c. = how that one doth not see sleep with his eyes by day or by night. Figure of speech Catachresis ( App-6 ).