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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 8:1–3

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
WHO is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 1

  1. Acts 6:15Rank 1 from verse 1
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    15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

  2. Deuteronomy 28:50Rank 2 from verse 1
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    50A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

  3. 2 Peter 1:20Rank 3 from verse 1
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    20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

  4. 2 Timothy 4:17Rank 4 from verse 1
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    17Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

  5. Acts 4:13Rank 5 from verse 1
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    13¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

  6. Acts 4:29Rank 6 from verse 1
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    29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

  7. Daniel 4:18–19Rank 7 from verse 1
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    18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

    19¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

  8. Ecclesiastes 2:13–14Rank 8 from verse 1
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    13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

    14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

  9. Exodus 34:29–30Rank 9 from verse 1
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    29¶ And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

    30And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

  10. Job 33:23Rank 10 from verse 1
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    23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

  11. Proverbs 17:24Rank 11 from verse 1
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    24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

  12. Proverbs 24:5Rank 12 from verse 1
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    5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

  13. Proverbs 4:8–9Rank 13 from verse 1
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    8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

    9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

  14. 1 Corinthians 2:13–16Rank 14 from verse 1
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    13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

    14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

    15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

    16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

  15. Daniel 2:28–30Rank 15 from verse 1
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    28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

    29As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

    30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

  16. Daniel 2:47Rank 16 from verse 1
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    47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

  17. Ephesians 6:19Rank 17 from verse 1
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    19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

  18. Genesis 41:15–16Rank 18 from verse 1
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    15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

    16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

  19. Genesis 41:38–39Rank 19 from verse 1
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    38And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

    39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

  20. Matthew 17:2Rank 20 from verse 1
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    2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  21. Proverbs 1:6Rank 21 from verse 1
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    6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

  22. Genesis 40:8Rank 22 from verse 1
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    8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

From verse 2

  1. Proverbs 24:21Rank 1 from verse 2
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    21My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

  2. Titus 3:1Rank 2 from verse 2
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    1PUT them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

  3. 1 Kings 2:43Rank 3 from verse 2
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    43Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

  4. 1 Peter 2:13–17Rank 4 from verse 2
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    13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

    14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

    15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

    16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

    17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  5. Romans 13:1–5Rank 5 from verse 2
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    1LET every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

    2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

    3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

    4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

    5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

  6. 1 Chronicles 29:24Rank 6 from verse 2
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    24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

  7. 2 Samuel 21:7Rank 7 from verse 2
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    7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

  8. Exodus 22:11Rank 8 from verse 2
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    11Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

  9. Ezekiel 17:13–20Rank 9 from verse 2
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    13And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

    14That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

    15But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

    16As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

    17Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

    18Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

    19Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

    20And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

From verse 3

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:4Rank 1 from verse 3
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    4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  2. Acts 5:8–9Rank 2 from verse 3
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    8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

    9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

  3. Daniel 4:35Rank 3 from verse 3
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    35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  4. Daniel 5:19Rank 4 from verse 3
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    19And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

  5. Proverbs 14:29Rank 5 from verse 3
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    29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

  6. 1 Kings 1:50–52Rank 6 from verse 3
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    50¶ And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

    51And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

    52And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

  7. 1 Kings 2:21–24Rank 7 from verse 3
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    21And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

    22And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

    23Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

    24Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

  8. Isaiah 48:4Rank 8 from verse 3
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    4Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

  9. Jeremiah 44:16–17Rank 9 from verse 3
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    16As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.

    17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

  10. Proverbs 16:14–15Rank 10 from verse 3
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    14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

    15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

  11. Proverbs 30:31Rank 11 from verse 3
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    31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 8:1

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

maketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of make (to form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

face

↗

The front of the head and its countenance or expression; the front, surface, outward appearance, presence, view, or personally known identity of a person, place, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shine

↗

To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor. To give light, real or figurative.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

boldness

↗

Courage, confidence, or freedom from fear; of the face, firmness or severity of expression.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

changed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of change, meaning to make or become different; to alter, exchange, replace, or pass from one state to another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 8:2

COMBINED MEANING

counsel

↗

1. A purpose, plan, design, or settled decision. 2. Advice, guidance, or direction. 3. Wisdom, judgment, or understanding for determining a course. 4. As a verb, to advise, direct, or recommend a course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

keep

↗

To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

commandment

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative command, charge, order, or precept to be obeyed. Sense 2: One of the ten commandments.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

regard

↗

Respect; esteem; reverence; that view of the mind which springs from value, estimable qualities, or any thing that excites admiration.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 8:3

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sight

↗

1. The act or power of seeing. 2. A thing seen, view, or appearance. 3. Presence or observation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stand

↗

Sense 1: To be upright, rise, stop, remain, endure, take or keep a position, be established, withstand, or present oneself before another. Sense 2: A fixed position or state of stopping, as in ‘at a stand’.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

whatsoever

↗

Whatever, anything that, or every thing of the kind or within the condition and scope stated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pleaseth

↗

Sense 1: Gives satisfaction or is agreeable to. Sense 2: Chooses, wills, or sees fit.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

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Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Ecclesiastes 8:1–5

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

8:1WHO is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

Selected passage

8:2I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Selected passage

8:3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

Selected passage

8:4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

8:5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

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