---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Ecclesiastes 8:1. Who knoweth the interpretation — פשר pesher, a pure Chaldee word, found nowhere else in the Bible but in the Chaldee parts of Dani"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ecclesiastes/8"
---

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/1). ***Who knoweth the interpretation*** — פשר *pesher*, a pure *Chaldee* word, found nowhere else in the Bible but in the *Chaldee* parts of *Daniel*. "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine." Every state of the heart shines through the countenance; but there is such an evidence of the contented, happy, pure, benevolent state of the soul in the *face* of a truly pious man, that it must be observed, and cannot be mistaken. In the Hebrew the former clause of this verse ends the preceding chapter. Who has ever been deceived in the appearance of the face that belonged to a savage heart? Those who represent, by painting or otherwise, a *wise man*, with a *gravely sour face*, striking awe and forbidding approach, have either mistaken the man, or are unacquainted with some essential principles of their art.
***The boldness of his face shall be changed.*** — Instead of ישנא *yeshunne*, which signifies *shall be hated*, many of *Kennicott's* and *De Rossi's* MSS. have ישנה *yeshunneh*, shall be *changed* or *doubled*. Hence the verse might be read, "The wisdom of a man shall illuminate his face; and the strength of his countenance shall be doubled." He shall speak with full confidence and conviction on a subject which he perfectly understands, and all will feel the weight of his observations.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/2). ***To keep the king's commandment*** — This sentence would be better translated, *I keep the mouth of the king*; I take good heed not to meddle with state secrets; and if I know, to hide them. Or, I am obedient to the commands of the laws; I feel myself bound by whatever the king has decreed.
***In regard of the oath of God.*** — You have sworn obedience to him; keep your oath, for the engagement was made in the *presence of* *God*. It appears that the Jewish princes and chiefs took an oath of fidelity to their kings. This appears to have been done to *David*, [2 Samuel 5:1-3](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/1-3); to *Joash*, [2 Kings 11:17](../../../kjv/2-kings/11/17); and to *Solomon*, [1 Chronicles 29:24](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/29/24).

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:3](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/3). ***Be not hasty*** — I consider the first *five* verses here as directions to *courtiers*, and the more immediate servants of kings.
Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. *Do not stand in an evil* *thing*. If you have done wrong, do not endeavour to vindicate yourself before him; it is of no use; his power is *absolute*, and *he will do what* he *pleases*. He will take his *own view* of the subject, and he will *retain* it. The language of a despotic sovereign was ever this, Sic volo sic jubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas; "I will this. I command that. No hesitation! My will is law!" Therefore it is added here, *Where the word of a king* is, there is *power*-influence, authority, *and* the sword. And *who may* *say unto him*, whether he acts right or wrong, *What doest thou*? [Ecclesiastes 8:4](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/4). No wonder in such governments there are so many *revolutions*; but they are *revolutions* without *amendment*, as it is one *tyrant* rising up to destroy *another*, who, when seated in authority, acts in the way of his predecessor; till another, like himself, do to him as he has done to the former. In our country, after a long trial, we find that a *mixed monarchy* is the safest, best, and most useful form of government: we have had, it is true, unprincipled ministers, who wished to turn our *limited* into an *absolute monarchy*; and they were always ready to state that *an* *absolute monarchy was best*. Granted; provided the monarch be as *wise*, as *holy*, and as *powerful* as GOD!

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:5](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/5). ***Both time and judgment.*** — It is a matter of great importance to be able to discern WHEN and HOW both to *speak* and *act*; but when *time* and *manner* are both determined, the *matter* comes next. WHAT shall *I speak*? WHAT shall *I do*? *When, how*, and *what*, answer to *time, manner*, and *matter*. To discern all these, and act suitably, is a *lesson* for a *philosopher*, and a *study* for a *Christian*.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/6). ***To every purpose there is time*** — חפץ *chaphets*, every *volition*, every thing that *depends on the will of man*. He has generally the *opportunity* to do whatever he purposes; and as his purposes are frequently evil, his acts are so too: and in consequence his misery is great.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:8](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/8). There is ***no man that hath power over the spirit to**********retain the spirit*** — The *Chaldee* has, "There is no man who can rule over the spirit of the breath, so as to prevent the animal life from leaving the body of man." Others translate to this sense: "No man hath power over the *wind* to restrain the wind; and none has power over *death* to restrain him; and when a man engages as a *soldier*, he cannot be discharged from the war till it is ended; and by wickedness no man shall be delivered from any evil." Taking it in this way, these are maxims which contain self-evident truths. Others suppose the verse to refer to the *king* who *tyrannizes* over and oppresses his people. He shall also account to God for his actions; he shall die, and he cannot prevent it; and when he is judged, his wickedness cannot deliver him.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:9](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/9). ***One man ruleth over another to his own hurt.*** — This may be spoken of rulers generally, who, instead of *feeding, fleece the* *flock*; tyrants and oppressors, who come to an untimely end by their mismanagement of the offices of the state. All these things relate to *Asiatic* despots, and have ever been more applicable to *them* than to any other sovereigns in the world. They were despotic; they still are so.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/10). ***Who had come and gone from the place of the holy*** — The place of the holy is the sacred office which they held, *anointed* either as *kings* or *priests* to God; and, not having fulfilled the holy office in a holy way, have been carried to their *graves* without *lamentation*, and lie among the dead without remembrance.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:11](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/11). ***Because sentence*** — פתגם *pithgam*, a *Divine decree* or *declaration*. This is no *Hebrew*, but a mere *Chaldee* word, and occurs only in the *later books* of the Bible - *Esther, Ezra* and *Daniel*, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on. So this longsuffering of God, which *leadeth to repentance*, is abused so as to *lead to farther crimes*! When men sin against the remedy of their salvation, how can they escape perdition?

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/12). ***Though a sinner do evil a hundred times*** — If God bear so long with a transgressor, waiting in his longsuffering for him to repent and turn to him, surely he will be peculiarly kind to them that *fear him*, and endeavour to walk uprightly before him.

Verse 13. ***But it shall not be well with the wicked*** — Let not the long-spared sinner presume that, because sentence is not speedily executed on his evil works, and he is suffered to go on to his *hundredth transgression*, God has forgotten to punish. No; *he* *feareth not before God*; and therefore he shall not ultimately escape.

Verse 14. ***There be just*****men**] See on [Ecclesiastes 7:16](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/16).

Verse 15. ***Then I commended mirth*** — These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since *virtue* is frequently under oppression, and *vice* triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed by the maxim EDE, BIBE, LUDE. *Post mortem nulla voluptas*."
*Eat, drink*, and *play*,
While here you may;
For soon as death
Has stopp'd your breath,
Ye ne'er shall see a cheerful day.

Verse 16. ***When I applied mine heart to know wisdom*** — This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may *study night* and *day*, and deprive ourselves of *rest* and *sleep*, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the Divine government; but all is right and just. *This* is the state of *probation*; and in it neither can the wicked be punished, nor the righteous rewarded. But eternity is at hand; and then shall every man receive according to his works. He that spends his life in the *eat, drink*, and *play*, will find in that day that he has lost the *time* in *which* he could have prepared for *eternity*.

Verse [Ecclesiastes 8:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/17). ***Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot**********find out the work that is done under the sun*** — I saw it to be of such a nature -
1, That *a man cannot find it out*.
2. That if he *labour to find it out*, he shall not succeed.
3. That though he be *wise*- the *most instructed* among men, and *think* to find it out, he shall find *he is not able*. It is beyond the wisdom and power of man. How vain then are all your *cavils* about Providence. You do not understand it; you cannot comprehend it. Fear God!

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