Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 8:2–3

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 15 available

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

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 20 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 2

  1. Proverbs 24:21Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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
    Open

    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 8:2

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

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.

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.

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.