Ecclesiastes 8:11 kjv
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 nkjv
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 niv
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 esv
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 nlt
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 10:6 | He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not suffer adversity." | Wicked presumption due to no immediate consequence |
| Psa 50:21 | These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was truly like you. But now I will rebuke you... | God's silence misinterpreted by the wicked |
| Psa 73:11-12 | And they say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked... prosper in the world. | The wicked question God's knowledge due to their prosperity |
| Rom 2:4 | Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? | God's patience meant for repentance, not presumption |
| Rom 2:5-6 | But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. | Impenitence leads to stored wrath despite patience |
| 2 Pet 3:9-10 | The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. | God's "slowness" is patience, awaiting repentance |
| 2 Pet 3:3-4 | Scoffers will come in the last days... "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning." | Doubters use delay as reason for unbelief |
| Mt 24:48-51 | But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come... | Delayed judgment leads to wicked behavior |
| Heb 10:26-27 | For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment... | Continued sin after truth leads to certain judgment |
| Heb 10:30-31 | For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. | The Lord will judge, terrifying reality for impenitent |
| 1 Thess 5:2-3 | For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly... | Judgment often comes suddenly despite delay |
| Isa 26:10 | If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not perceive the majesty of the Lord. | Wicked do not learn righteousness without swift consequence |
| Pro 1:32 | For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them... | Complacency of fools in sin leads to destruction |
| Pro 1:28-31 | Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord... | Wisdom's call rejected, consequence comes late |
| Psa 9:17 | The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. | Certainty of judgment for those who forget God |
| Psa 55:19 | God will hear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old—Selah— because they do not change and do not fear God. | God's judgment will humble those who don't change |
| Psa 37:1-2 | Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. | Encouragement against envying wicked due to short-lived prosperity |
| Exo 34:6-7 | The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... but who will by no means clear the guilty... | God is slow to anger but will not leave guilty unpunished |
| Gen 6:5 | The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. | The inherent evil inclination of human heart |
| Gen 8:21 | ...the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth... | Human heart's inclination to evil from early age |
| Ecc 12:13-14 | The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. | Ultimate judgment will occur for all deeds |
| Rom 1:28-32 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done... though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. | Given over to depraved minds due to rejection of God |
Ecclesiastes 8 verses
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Meaning
This verse identifies a primary reason for the proliferation of human wickedness: when the rightful verdict or punishment for a wrong act is not immediately carried out, the hearts and minds of people become thoroughly emboldened and resolute in their intention to commit further evil. The perceived lack of swift consequences fosters a presumptuous attitude toward sin.
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Context
Ecclesiastes 8:11 is nestled within Qoheleth's profound observations about the complexities of life "under the sun"—meaning, from a human perspective, apart from direct divine revelation of future events. In Ecclesiastes 8, Qoheleth has been discussing themes of obedience to authorities (v. 2-5), the limits of human knowledge regarding divine timing (v. 6-8), and the perplexing reality that often the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper (v. 9-10). Verse 11 specifically explains why evil persists and proliferates in light of this delayed justice. Qoheleth, through astute observation of human behavior, pinpoints a psychological and moral consequence of divine forbearance or the slow grinding of legal justice: it hardens the human heart, encouraging further sin, because there are no immediate visible repercussions. This verse highlights a central tension in the book – the apparent disorder of the world and God's ultimate justice.
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Word analysis
- Because sentence (כַּאֲשֶׁר אֵין נַעֲשָׂה מְהֵרָה פִּתְגָם ka'asher ein na'asah meherah pitgam)
- Because (ka'asher): Introduces the reason or cause for the subsequent effect.
- sentence (pitgam): This Aramaic loanword, uncommon in Hebrew Scriptures but appearing in Ecclesiastes and Ezra/Daniel, refers to a decree, verdict, command, or pronouncement, often judicial or royal. Its usage implies a formal and authoritative judgment. It signifies a divine decree of judgment or a legal process in this context, rather than a mere informal thought.
- against an evil work (מַעֲשֵׂה רָע ma'aseh ra')
- evil work (ma'aseh ra'): Literally "work of evil" or "deed of wickedness." This comprehensive phrase refers to any act that is morally wrong, harmful, or contrary to God's will. It's not limited to specific crimes but encompasses all forms of sin and injustice.
- is not executed speedily, (אֵין נַעֲשָׂה מְהֵרָה ein na'asah meherah)
- is not executed: Emphasizes the absence of immediate action or implementation of the sentence.
- speedily (meherah): Implies haste, quickness, or promptly. The key observation is the lack of immediate consequences for evil. This "speedily" refers to human expectation, contrasting with divine patience or a longer judicial process. It points to a delay, not an absence of judgment.
- therefore (עַל־כֵּן 'al-ken)
- therefore: A strong causal conjunction, indicating that what follows is a direct consequence of the preceding observation. It underlines the cause-and-effect relationship between delayed justice and human behavior.
- the heart (לֵב lev)
- heart (lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotions but the core of a person's being—the center of intellect, will, reason, moral choices, and intentions. It's where decisions are made and character is formed.
- of the sons of men (בְּנֵי הָאָדָם bene ha'adam)
- sons of men: A common idiom for humanity in general, all people. It signifies a universal truth about human nature, applying to everyone.
- is fully set in them (מָלֵא הֵם male hem)
- fully set: Literally "full in them" or "filled in them." The verb male' (to be full, filled) here conveys a sense of being completely saturated, resolved, or determined. It indicates that the heart becomes entirely confirmed or solidified in its wicked intent, showing a lack of hesitancy or remorse due to the perceived impunity. It is an established, ingrained predisposition.
- to do evil. (לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע la'asot ra')
- to do evil: Similar to "evil work," but in its infinitive form ("to do") indicating the purpose or strong inclination of the heart—their confirmed intention to engage in wicked actions.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily": This clause sets up the observed premise. It highlights a common human experience or perception – that the consequences for sin are often not immediate or visible. This isn't a theological statement about God being uncaring, but an observation of how humans interpret God's forbearance or legal system delays. The phrase captures the human expectation for immediate punitive action against wrongdoing, and the observed reality that such action is often deferred.
- "therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil": This is the behavioral consequence drawn from the observation. The delay in punishment directly impacts human will and intention. The "heart" (the core of one's being) becomes "fully set" (resolute, hardened, entirely inclined) toward sin. This describes a dangerous cycle: delayed justice leads to hardened hearts, which then lead to more evil acts. It implies a moral degeneration where the absence of deterrence fosters audacity in wrongdoing.
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Bonus section
This verse implicitly serves as a prelude to the ultimate message of Ecclesiastes found in 12:13-14, which explicitly states that God "will bring every deed into judgment." While Ecclesiastes 8:11 highlights the reason for ongoing human evil due to delayed judgment, the concluding verses reaffirm the certainty of eventual judgment, bridging the gap between present observations of perceived injustice and future divine reckoning. It reveals a critical flaw in human perception: God's long-suffering is intended to draw humanity to repentance (as emphasized in the New Testament, Rom 2:4, 2 Pet 3:9), but human perversity often misinterprets it as an opportunity for further rebellion. This perspective serves as a strong warning against presuming upon God's patience, reminding us that though the mill of God grinds slowly, it grinds exceedingly fine.
Ecclesiastes 8 11 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 8:11 articulates a profound truth about human nature and the observable reality of delayed justice. Qoheleth, ever the astute observer, notes that when there are no immediate consequences or visible deterrents for wrongdoing—whether from a civil authority or from divine retribution—human hearts tend to become bolder and more resolute in their wicked inclinations. This delay, which is often an act of God's patience intended to allow for repentance, is frequently misinterpreted by sinful humanity as a sign of God's indifference or a confirmation that they can escape justice. This breeds a dangerous presumption that empowers individuals to delve deeper into evil, becoming "fully set" in their wicked ways. The verse underscores the moral hazard of unchecked sin and offers an explanation for the pervasive nature of evil in the world, linking it directly to how humanity perceives (or misperceives) the timing of divine judgment. It does not argue against the certainty of judgment, but rather addresses the practical human response to its postponement.