Ecclesiastes 8:1

"Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of. matter?. man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam"."Who is like the wise man" -"Who is equal to him" (Keil/Del., p. 336), "Who really is. wise man" (Rhm); "Who is as the wise?" (YLT). "The chapter begins with. question and. statement that magnify the value of wisdom (1) and closes with an acknowledge of wisdom's limitations (17). Wisdom enables. wise man to avoid the king's wrath (2-9), but not even. wise man can figure out the enigmas in God's distribution of justice (10-17)" (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 996).

"knows the interpretation of. matter?" -knows the true and clear meaning of things, "to understand things, to be able to analyze them and interpret them" (Tay). "The wise man knows how to explain difficult things, to unfold mysterious things; in short, he understands how to go to the foundation of things" (Keil/Del. p. 336).

"A man's wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam" -"When. man finds wisdom, his face lights up" (TWOT p. 26); "So the insight which wisdom affords. man makes his face to glow with inner joy and satisfaction" (Leupold p. 182).

Points To Note:

1 Wisdom, esp. godly wisdom (James 3:17-18), removes the harshness, ignorance, prejudice, frustration, pessimism, and rudeness which is so often caused by sin. "the word translated "boldness" (KJV), "stern face" (NASV), is best taken of the coarseness and impudence engendered by ignorance and want of culture" (P.P. Comm. p. 199). 2. Wisdom enables one to act graciously and avoid foolish and brash behavior which gets so many people into trouble (Proverbs 14:35). 3. Happiness generally results when one is working smarter instead of harder.