Ecclesiastes 8:4

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? WHERE THE WORD OF A (THE) KING (IS, THERE IS) POWER. God's very "Word" is "power." So the Gospel Word (; ). Maurer translates (Baasher), 'Because that the word of the King is powerful.' WHO MAY SAY UNTO HIM - none is of higher authority, so as to call him to account (; ; ; ). Scripture does not ascribe such arbitrary power to earthly kings....

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!...

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...

WHERE THE WORD OF A KING [IS, THERE IS] POWER,.... Or "dominion" z. Authority goes along with his word of command; and there is an inferior magistracy, a subordinate power under him, ready to execute his will upon the rebellious and disobedient. Jarchi interprets it, the word of the holy blessed God; and the Targum, the word of that King who rules over all the world; where his word of doctrine comes, not in word only, it is with power: his written word is quick and powerful; the word of his Gospel preached is the power of God to salvation; or is accompanied with power to enlighten dark minds, quicken dead sinners, unstop deaf ears, soften hard hearts, and deliver men from the slavery of sin and Satan; it makes men, of enemies, friends to God, Christ, and good men; transforms them by the renewing of their minds, and comforts and establishes saints; all which is attributed to the word; 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

POWER. might, or control. Hebrew. _shilton._ Occurs only here and in Ecclesiastes 8:8....

_Where the word of a king is, there is power_ Better, FORASMUCH AS THE WORD OF A KING IS POWER, or rather AUTHORITY. The latter word in the Hebrew text is used in Chaldee as meaning a ruler, or potentate. In the last clause, "Who may say unto him, What doest thou?" we have an echo of Job 34:13, where the question is asked in reference to the sovereignty of God. The covert protest of the writer shews itself in thus transferring, as with a grave irony, what belonged to the Divine King to the earthly ruler who claimed a like authority. The despot stands, or thinks he stands, as much above the questionings and complaints of his subjects, as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe does above those of men in general....

I COUNSEL THEE TO KEEP, &C.— _I tell thee, observe thou the king's face; nay, mind it in regard to the oath: be not hasty:_ Ecclesiastes 8:3. _Go out of his presence; stay not whilst he gives wrong orders; for whatsoever pleaseth him, he will do;_ Ecclesiastes 8:4. _Because the word of a king is an absolute command, and who shall say,_ &c.? The word rendered _God,_ in the second verse, אלהים _elohiim,_ sometimes signifies men in authority, princes or magistrates; and I know not, says Mr. Desvoeux, but it should be thus understood in the present passage; at least it has that signification in a place (Exodus 22:28.) where Moses treats the same subject which is here treated by Solom

C. ADMONITIONS TO USE WISDOM IN THE WORK OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE 8:19:18 1. Work in submission to the king. Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 TEXT 8:1-8 1 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. 2 I say, Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, What are you doing? 5 He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. 6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, when a man's trouble is heavy upon him. 7 If no one knows what will happen, who can tel