Ecclesiastes 8:1

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 THE WISE MEN? Praise of true wisdom continued, (Ecclesiastes 7:11, etc.) "Who" is to be accounted "equal to the wise man?" KNOWETH THE INTERPRETATION - of God's providences (e.g., Ecclesiastes 7:8; Ecclesiastes 7:13), and God's word (e.g., Ecclesiastes 7:29, note; Proverbs 1:6)....

1-5 None of the rich, the powerful, the honourable, or the accomplished of the sons of men, are so excellent, useful, or happy, as the wise man. Who else can interpret the words of God, or teach aright from his truths and dispensations? What madness must it be for weak and dependent creatures to rebel against the Almighty! What numbers form wrong judgments, and bring misery on themselves, in this life and that to come!...

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...

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)....

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 8:1 Section 5. There is no use in repining or rebelling; _true wisdom counsels obedience to the powers that be_,_ and submission to the dispensations of Providence_._ _However oppressive a tyrant may prove sure retribution awaits him. ECCLESIASTES 8:1 WHO IS AS THE WISE MAN?_ i_._e_._ _Who is like, equal to, the wise man? The somewhat sudden question occurs naturally after the results of the search for wisdom mentioned at the end of the last chapter. The thought is not, as in Hosea 14:9 and...

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

CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Prudence before kings (Ecclesiastes 8:1)_ 2. Of the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 8:11) 3. The conclusion (Ecclesiastes 8:14) Ecclesiastes 8:1. What else had he seen? What were his further discoveries? He is still ardent in praising wisdom, though he had confessed “that it was far from him.” Wisdom makes the face to shine and the boldness of the face becomes changed. He cautions as to the governmental powers in the world, urges prudence and submission. He is a keen observer. But nothing can deliver from the power of the grave. The tyrannic rul

MAXIMS ON WISDOM AND GOVERNMENT. Ecclesiastes 8:1. Wisdom (like prayer and self-sacrifice; _cf._ Luke 9:29) transfigures the countenance, it takes the hardness or coarseness out of the face. Ecclesiastes 8:2. Honour the king, remembering his Divine appointment and the oath taken at his coronation; do not rashly leave his service or rebel against him. Or we may (so LXX) connect Ecclesiastes 8:2_ b_ with Ecclesiastes 8:3, but where an oath of God is in question be not hasty (_i.e._ in obeying the king); go

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....

_Who is as the wise man?_ The question comes in abruptly as from a teacher who calls the attention of his scholars to things that are φωνήεντα συνέτοισιν ("significant to those who understand") and remind us of the "He that hath ears to hear let him hear" in our Lord's teaching (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9). Something there was in what he is about to add, to be read between the lines. It required a á man to "know the interpretation" (the noun is Chaldaean and is found, with a slight variation, as the prominent word in Daniel 4:5; Daniel 4:7) of the "thing" or better,