Ecclesiastes 8 4

Ecclesiastes 8:4 kjv

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Ecclesiastes 8:4 nkjv

Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

Ecclesiastes 8:4 niv

Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

Ecclesiastes 8:4 esv

For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

Ecclesiastes 8:4 nlt

His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.

Ecclesiastes 8 verses

Ecclesiastes 8 4 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 8:4 observes the undeniable and often unquestionable authority of an earthly king. His commands are absolute and enforced with power, rendering it perilous for anyone to challenge or question his actions or decrees. It highlights the reality of sovereignty in human kingdoms, where the word of the ruler is law and his will is done without debate.

Ecclesiastes 8 4 Context

Ecclesiastes chapter 8 advises wisdom in dealing with human rulers and contemplating the injustice that often occurs under their rule, contrasting it with God's eventual judgment. Verse 4 flows directly from the counsel to obey the king and not be hasty to leave his presence (Eccl 8:2-3). It grounds this advice in the stark reality of the king's unchallengeable power. The "Preacher" (Kohelet) is observing life "under the sun"—the limitations, ironies, and often oppressive realities of the human condition, particularly concerning power structures and the quest for true meaning amidst life's uncertainties and inequities. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings often held absolute authority, sometimes even viewed as divine representatives or manifestations, making their word law and their actions beyond question by their subjects.

Ecclesiastes 8 4 Word analysis

• Where the word (בְּמֶ֣לֶךְ דְּבַר־ bə·me·leḵ dě·ḇar-):

  • dabar (דְּבַר): Means "word," "speech," "command," "matter," or "thing." Here it specifically signifies a king's spoken or written decree. It conveys the authority, finality, and binding nature of a royal pronouncement. Unlike mere suggestion, it carries the weight of a definitive command.
  • This phrase highlights that it is not merely the king's presence but his utterance that holds dominion.

• of a king (מֶ֣לֶךְ me·leḵ):

  • melech: "king," a sovereign ruler. In this context, it refers to an earthly monarch with a governmental structure supporting his rule. The ancient world had many absolute monarchies, making this a common observation. The word does not differentiate between a good or bad king, simply noting the inherent power of the office.

• is, there is power (שׁוּלְטָ֔ן šul·ṭān):

  • shul·ṭān: Means "authority," "dominion," "control," or "power." It describes the enforcing capability and governing capacity associated with the king's command. This power is not merely persuasive; it is executive and coercive, backed by the machinery of the state (military, judiciary). The "is" implies that power inherently accompanies the king's word; it is its immediate consequence.

• and who may say unto him, (וּמִ֥י יֹאמַר֙ אֵלָ֔יו ū·mî yō·mar ’ê·lāw):

  • mi (מִי): "who?" A rhetorical question emphasizing the impossibility or futility of opposition. It implies a high degree of danger for anyone attempting to question the king.
  • yomar: "will say." Future tense, emphasizing the enduring reality that no one will dare say it.
  • The rhetorical question underscores the monarch's supreme position.

• What doest thou? (מַה־ תַּעֲשֶֽׂה mah- ta‘ă·śeh):

  • mah: "what?"
  • ta'aseh: "you are doing/will do." This phrase implies questioning the king's actions, motives, or right to act. It's a direct challenge to his authority, judgment, or legitimacy. This is forbidden and dangerous in such a power structure.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Where the word of a king is, there is power": This phrase establishes a direct, undeniable link between the king's command and its authoritative enforcement. It illustrates the effectiveness and potency of royal decree, signaling that his pronouncements are not empty but backed by significant dominion and means to achieve their purpose.
  • "and who may say unto him, What doest thou?": This rhetorical question underlines the absolute nature of the king's authority. It vividly portrays the reality that subjects possess no right or capacity to challenge, rebuke, or even query the actions of their sovereign, especially when such actions are supported by "power." Any attempt to do so would likely result in severe consequences, thus discouraging dissent.

Ecclesiastes 8 4 Bonus section

This verse implicitly points to a profound contrast: While no one can question an earthly king, there is One whose Word carries ultimate, truly unquestionable power—God Himself. Unlike a human monarch, God's power is always perfectly just, good, and omnipotent. The inability to question an earthly king here is a matter of practical self-preservation against human power; however, no human should question God, for His ways are higher (Isa 55:8-9), and His judgment is always righteous (Gen 18:25; Psa 19:9). Thus, this verse subtly reminds us of the temporary and flawed nature of human rule compared to the eternal and perfect reign of God. While kings may act without accountability to their subjects, they are ultimately accountable to God.

Ecclesiastes 8 4 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 8:4 presents a pragmatic observation on earthly governance rather than a moral endorsement. It acknowledges the simple, potent truth that in human kingdoms, a monarch's decree carries immediate and unchallengeable authority, enforced by the full might of his power. The Preacher highlights the practical danger of opposing such a ruler, stating rhetorically that no one can stand before him and demand an account of his actions. This verse reflects the wisdom tradition's advice to respect established authority for the sake of peace and self-preservation, recognizing that questioning a king is not only futile but perilous. It sets the stage for the following verses, which often speak to the unfairness or unpredictability of life "under the sun" despite this powerful rule, implicitly contrasting human governance with God's ultimate and just sovereignty. This insight is not an endorsement of tyrannical rule, but a sober recognition of human power dynamics and their inherent dangers.