Ecclesiastes 8:12 kjv
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
Ecclesiastes 8:12 nkjv
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 niv
Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 esv
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 nlt
But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 73:17-19 | ...understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places... | Wicked's fleeting prosperity and ultimate doom. |
| Mal 3:18 | Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked... | God's eventual clear distinction. |
| Rom 2:6-8 | God "will render to each one according to his deeds"... | God's righteous judgment for actions. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap... | Divine law of sowing and reaping. |
| Isa 3:10-11 | "Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them..." | Assurance of well-being for the righteous. |
| Psa 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... | Importance of fearing God for true understanding. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge... | Fear of God as foundation of knowledge. |
| Prov 9:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... | Reinforces wisdom's origin in God's fear. |
| Deut 10:12-13 | ...what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD... | Divine command to fear God and obey Him. |
| Mic 6:8 | ...what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly...to walk humbly with your God? | Righteous conduct rooted in fearing God. |
| Psa 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken... | God's unwavering care for the upright. |
| Psa 128:1-2 | Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways... | Blessings upon those who fear and obey God. |
| Prov 3:1-2 | My son, do not forget my law... For length of days... | Promise of life and peace through obedience. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... like a tree planted by the waters... | Flourishing of those who trust in God. |
| Hab 2:3 | For the vision is yet for an appointed time... It will surely come... | Call for patient waiting for God's timing. |
| Heb 10:36 | For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God... | Necessity of perseverance in faith. |
| Jas 5:7-8 | Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord... | Exhortation to patient waiting for final justice. |
| Prov 11:31 | If the righteous will be recompensed on earth, how much more the ungodly... | Ultimate justice and judgment for all. |
| Eccl 7:15 | There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness... wicked prolongs his life. | Previous observation of life's injustices (for contrast). |
| Job 21:7 | Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? | A similar perplexing question (answered in Eccl). |
| Ps 1:1-6 | Blessed is the man... wicked are not so, but like the chaff... | Contrast between the blessed righteous and the perishing wicked. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God... | Divine assurance for those devoted to God. |
| 1 Tim 4:8 | ...godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. | Godliness benefits in this life and the next. |
Ecclesiastes 8 verses
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 8:12 declares a fundamental truth despite the Preacher's preceding observations of apparent injustice. It states that even when a wicked person appears to thrive and live long after repeatedly committing evil, there is an assured future of well-being for those who consistently revere and obey God. The verse offers a theological anchor, asserting that ultimate justice and true flourishing are secured for the righteous, regardless of the confusing circumstances observed "under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Context
Ecclesiastes 8:12 sits within a broader discussion about authority, wisdom, and divine justice. Chapters 7 and 8 particularly wrestle with the perplexing realities "under the sun"—where wisdom is often unrewarded, the righteous suffer, and the wicked seem to prosper and wield power. The Preacher observes the limitations of human understanding concerning God's actions and timing, lamenting that "man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun." (Eccl 8:17). Within this tension, verse 12 stands out as a sudden, resolute declaration of faith, moving beyond mere observation to state a foundational spiritual truth. It is a moment of certainty and theological assertion amidst the surrounding inquiries and skepticism about immediate visible justice, emphasizing a future, certain reality, likely God's ultimate judgment.
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Word analysis
- Though a sinner: (Hebrew: chaṭṭā' - "sinner," one who misses the mark or errs). This identifies a person fundamentally opposed to God's ways. The phrase highlights a challenging observation: someone whose core identity is defiance of God.
- does evil: (Hebrew: rasha' - "to be wicked," "do wrong"). Denotes active, intentional wrong-doing. The focus is on persistent, unrighteous behavior.
- a hundred times: (Hebrew: mē'āh pa'am - "one hundred times"). A hyperbole, emphasizing an extensive, repeated, and persistent pattern of evil deeds, not a literal count. It amplifies the apparent defiance of justice.
- and prolongs his life: (Hebrew: yamrîkh yāmāyw - "make long his days"). This describes the very problem the Preacher grapples with: the wicked often experience extended earthly life and seeming prosperity, contrary to immediate divine retribution. It deepens the observed paradox.
- yet I know: (Hebrew: wəgam 'ăní yāḏaʿ - "and also I know"). This is a strong, assertive declaration of conviction. Despite all the perplexing observations, the Preacher anchors himself in a foundational theological certainty. It contrasts personal empirical observation with divine revelation or settled wisdom. This knowledge transcends the 'under the sun' observations.
- that it will be well: (Hebrew: kî yiṭāb - "that it will be good"). The Hebrew tôv signifies well-being, flourishing, prosperity, and blessedness. It is not just about a moral judgment, but an ultimate state of goodness and benefit. It is a future, certain state of true advantage.
- with those who fear God: (Hebrew: lay-yəre'ê 'ělōhîm - "to those who fear God"). This refers to individuals who possess a profound, reverential awe and respect for God, which naturally leads to obedience and humble submission to His will. It is a core tenet of wisdom literature, the antithesis of the "sinner" mentioned earlier. This fear is not terror, but humble reverence.
- who fear Him before Him: (Hebrew: 'ăšer yāre'û mippānāyw - "who are in awe before His face/presence"). This is a reiteration and intensification, adding emphasis through repetition. "Before Him" implies living with an awareness of God's omnipresence, under His direct observation and accountability, thus fostering an internal integrity rooted in His immediate presence. This emphasizes not just outward conformity but inward orientation and accountability directly to God.
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Bonus section
The tension in Ecclesiastes between empirical observation and revealed truth is vividly illustrated in Eccl 8:12. The "though" clause represents the "under the sun" reality that the Preacher consistently struggles with—the seeming disorder where cause-and-effect in terms of moral outcome is often unclear. However, the "yet I know" clause embodies an "above the sun" theological truth, a statement of conviction rooted in faith rather than solely in sensory experience. This dynamic reveals the Preacher's journey: from humanistic questioning to a re-affirmation of divine sovereignty and justice, emphasizing the wisdom of ultimately trusting God's mysterious ways over finite human comprehension. It is a call to a faith-based perspective on life's perceived injustices, grounding hope in the character of God rather than immediate retribution or prosperity.
Ecclesiastes 8 12 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 8:12 is a powerful statement of faith, a moment of resolution in the midst of the Preacher's wrestling with life's profound paradoxes. After observing instances where the wicked seem to prosper and evade justice, this verse pivotally reasserts the steadfast moral order of God. The phrase "yet I know" serves as a confident, theological anchor, declaring that God's ultimate justice will prevail, irrespective of temporary human observations. It reminds the reader that what is visible "under the sun" (the fleeting prosperity of the wicked) does not represent the full and final reality of God's universal governance. True, lasting "well-being" is divinely assured for those whose lives are characterized by a deep, reverent fear of God—a fear that prompts humility, obedience, and constant awareness of His presence. This promise transcends the uncertainties and injustices of the earthly realm, pointing to an eternal perspective where God's righteous character is perfectly vindicated. The verse encourages steadfastness and endurance in the righteous, trusting that their labor of faith is not in vain.