Bible/Ecclesiastes/10

Ecclesiastes 10:5

10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: from: Heb. from before

KJV

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There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:

10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. in great: Heb. in great heights

What does Ecclesiastes 10:5 mean?

Ecclesiastes 10:5 is a verse in the book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יֵשׁ (yêsh), רַע (raʻ), רָאָה (râʼâh). It connects to 9 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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There
isיֵשׁyêsh/yaysh/H3426there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
an
evilרַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
which
I
have
seenרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
under
the
sun,שֶׁמֶשׁshemesh/sheh'-mesh/H8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
as
an
errorשְׁגָגָהshᵉgâgâh/sheg-aw-gaw'/H7684a mistake or inadvertent transgression
which
proceedethיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
fromפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
the
ruler:שַׁלִּיטshallîyṭ/shal-leet'/H7989potent; concretely, a prince or warrior
from:
Heb.
from
before

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:5

HENRY_FULL · Ecclesiastes 10:5
may have both a good conscience and a good name. Few young people do themselves enquire by what means they may recover and preserve their purity; and therefore David asks the question for them. 2. A satisfactory answer given to this question. Young men may effectually cleanse their way by taking heed thereto according to the word of God; and it is the honour of the word of God that it has such power and is of such use both to particular persons and to communities, whose happiness lies much in the virtue of their youth. (1.) Young men must make the word of God their rule, must acquaint themselves with it and resolve to conform themselves to it; that will do more towards the cleansing of young men that the laws of princes or the morals of philosophers. (2.) They must carefully apply that rule and make use of it; they must take heed to their way, must examine it by the word of God, as a touchstone and standard, must rectify what is amiss in it by that regulator and steer by that chart and compass. God's word will not do without our watchfulness, and a constant regard both to it and to our way, that we may compare them together. The ruin of young men is either living at large (or by no rule at all) or choosing to themselves false rules: let them ponder the path of their feet, and walk by scripture-rules; so their way shall be clean, and they shall have the comfort and credit of it here and for ever. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Here is, 1. David's experience of a good work God had wrought in him, which he takes the comfort of and pleads with God: " I have sought thee, sought to thee as my oracle, sought after thee as my happiness, sought thee as my God; for should not a people seek unto their God? If I have not yet found thee, I have sought thee, and thou never saidst, Seek in vain, nor wilt say so to me, for I have sought thee with my heart, with my whole heart, sought thee only, sought thee diligently." 2. His prayer for the preservation of that work: "Thou that hast inclined me to seek thy precepts, never suffer me to wander from them." The best are sensible of their aptness to wander; and the more we have found of the pleasure there is in keeping God's commandments the more afraid we shall be of wande

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Job 22:22

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

Proverbs 2:1

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Proverbs 2:10

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Proverbs 2:11

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Jeremiah 15:16

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I am: Heb. thy name is called upon me

Luke 2:19

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:51

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Topics

Rulers

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Ecclesiastes 10:5.

1 Chronicles 21:15

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. Ornan: also called, Araunah.Sam.24.18.

1 Kings 9:12

And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. pleased: Heb. were not right in his eyes

Exodus 2:11

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Exodus 34:23

Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

Exodus 34:24

For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

Exodus 5:19

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. perfect: or, upright, or, sincere

Genesis 44:23

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

Frequently asked questions

What does Ecclesiastes 10:5 say?

Ecclesiastes 10:5 (King James Version) reads: "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: from: Heb. from before"

Is Ecclesiastes 10:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Ecclesiastes 10:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Reflect

As you read Ecclesiastes 10:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Ecclesiastes 10:5
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