Ecclesiastes 8:5

"for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”"

Key Reflection

In Ecclesiastes 8:5, the verse underscores the absolute authority and power of the king, suggesting that his decrees are final and unchallengeable. This highlights the sovereignty of rulers over their subjects, a theme that reflects broader existential questions about human freedom and divine providence in ancient Near Eastern contexts.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Feel -literally, know. The meaning is, “He who obeys the commandment (i. e., the word of the king,Ecclesiastes 8:4), will not be an accomplice in any act of rebellion; and if he be a wise man he discerns (literally knows) that the king’s commandment or action is liable to correction, if it be wrong, in God’s time and by God’s judgment.” CompareEcclesiastes 3:11,Ecclesiastes 3:17.

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