Ecclesiastes 8 2

Ecclesiastes 8:2 kjv

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Ecclesiastes 8:2 nkjv

I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God.

Ecclesiastes 8:2 niv

Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God.

Ecclesiastes 8:2 esv

I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.

Ecclesiastes 8:2 nlt

Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would.

Ecclesiastes 8 verses

Ecclesiastes 8 2 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 8:2 advises one to obey the king's commands, framing this obedience not merely as a civil duty but as a matter connected to a divine oath. It emphasizes that respect for established authority is important, especially when a vow or covenant before God is involved, underscoring a divine sanction on such obligations.

Ecclesiastes 8 2 Context

Ecclesiastes, penned by the Preacher, often reflects on the paradoxes and frustrations of life "under the sun"—meaning human existence apart from a full revelation of God's eternal plan. Chapter 8 continues this theme by exploring the challenges of justice and human authority. It grapples with the reality that the wicked often prosper, and judgment is delayed or seems inequitable. Within this context of earthly limitations and potential injustices, the Preacher offers practical wisdom for living. Verse 8:2 serves as prudent advice for navigating societal structures, specifically addressing how a wise person should interact with governmental power. The "oath of God" provides a theological grounding for this civil advice, implying that an obligation to the king, whether by sworn allegiance or divine appointment of authority, carries sacred weight. This advice helps the individual maintain a degree of peace and safety amidst life's often inexplicable trials and inequalities, offering a tangible step to avoid unnecessary trouble from powerful rulers.

Ecclesiastes 8 2 Word analysis

• I counsel thee: While the Hebrew is simply "I advise," "counsel" (Hebrew: יָעַצְתִּי, yaʿats’tî) carries the sense of personal advice from the Preacher. It's practical wisdom for individual survival and flourishing.

• to keep: Hebrew: שְׁמֹר (shĕmor). This is an imperative, meaning "guard," "observe," "obey," or "be careful concerning." It implies diligent and mindful adherence, not passive acceptance. It speaks to intentional action.

• the king's commandment: Hebrew: מִצְוַת־מֶלֶךְ (mitzvat-melekh). "Commandment" (mitzvah) often refers to God's commandments in Scripture, but here it applies to royal decree. It signifies the authoritative word or order of the ruling sovereign. The king (מֶלֶךְ, melekh) represents the highest human authority.

• and that in regard of: Hebrew: עַל־אֹדוֹת (ʿal-ʾōdōt). This phrase means "on account of," "concerning," or "by reason of." It introduces the basis or reason for keeping the king's command. This reason elevates the obedience from mere pragmatism to something with sacred implication.

• the oath of God: Hebrew: שְׁבוּעַת אֱלֹהִים (shĕvuʿat ʾĕlōhîm).

  • Oath (שְׁבוּעַת, shĕvuʿat): A solemn declaration or promise, often involving a divine sanction, invoking God as a witness or guarantor. It denotes a binding vow.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים, ʾĔlōhîm): The generic term for God, the true God of Israel, or a powerful deity. The phrasing "oath of God" can have a few interpretations based on context and scholarly discussion:
    1. An oath made to God: This implies an oath of loyalty or allegiance made by the individual (or the king's subjects collectively) before God to obey the king. Breaking such an oath would be sin against God.
    2. An oath by God: Less likely, but could imply God's own solemn declaration, perhaps His covenant with kingship (e.g., God setting up rulers, Dan 2:21; Rom 13:1).
    3. An oath sworn by the king to God: The king's vow to rule righteously.
  • The most common and impactful understanding is an oath sworn before God, connecting human fidelity to a ruler with a sacred, divinely witnessed vow.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "to keep the king's commandment": This phrase directly instructs civil obedience. It highlights the importance of respecting temporal authority, a recurring theme in biblical wisdom literature and later in the New Testament. This is practical wisdom for peace and avoiding punitive consequences in daily life.
  • "and that in regard of the oath of God": This phrase provides the ultimate justification and gravitas for the prior command. It transforms secular obedience into a divinely observed obligation. It elevates an act of political submission to a spiritual matter. Disregarding the king's command, in this light, is not just defiance of human power but a violation of a divinely attested vow.

Ecclesiastes 8 2 Bonus section

The context of Ecclesiastes 8 also immediately follows 7:29, which laments that "God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." This backdrop subtly connects human fallibility (in rulers and ruled) with God's original perfect order. Obeying the king "in regard of the oath of God" could thus also be seen as a way of returning to or upholding a divine principle of order, even in a world complicated by human "inventions" and folly. It suggests that upholding foundational commitments, even amidst the perplexing aspects of life under the sun, is part of wisdom's path.

Ecclesiastes 8 2 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:2 provides practical counsel for living wisely in a fallen world, emphasizing the importance of respecting earthly authority. The core advice is to diligently obey the king’s directives. However, the unique and profound aspect of this verse lies in the qualification: "in regard of the oath of God." This elevates the duty from mere political pragmatism to a spiritual obligation. It implies that either an individual (or the populace) has sworn an oath of allegiance before God to their ruler, or there's an inherent divine sanction upon governmental authority, making disregard of it an offense against a higher power. This wise counsel aims to promote societal order and individual well-being by avoiding conflict with powerful authorities. It teaches that one's relationship with earthly rulers is often intertwined with their relationship with God, underscoring that vows made, even concerning civil duties, carry a sacred weight. In a world where power dynamics are often unjust or arbitrary, the Preacher advises a posture of respect rooted in a divine consideration, ensuring internal integrity even in difficult external circumstances.For instance, an early follower of Christ in Rome faced the dilemma of obeying imperial laws. This verse would have reminded them that their commitment to peaceful co-existence and submission (Rom 13) had a deeper root in divine order, whether through a public pledge of allegiance or simply respecting God's establishment of authorities.