Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 8:1

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.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

1 selected · 16 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

Start of chapter
Reset to Ecclesiastes 8:7

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 22 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 1

  1. Acts 6:15Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

  4. 2 Timothy 4:17Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

  13. Proverbs 4:8–9Rank 13 from verse 1
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

  22. Genesis 40:8Rank 22 from verse 1
    Open

    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.

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

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

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.

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

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.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.