Ecclesiastes 8:14
in Ecclesiastes 8There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
KJV
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 8
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Which is done upon the earth - The instance of vanity, to which these words are applied, is the seeming inequality of God’s justice; but if they are considered in connection with the profession of personal faith in God’s absolute justice Ecc 8:12, the conclusion is irresistible, that, whatever reason the Preacher had for reserve in declaring his belief, he certainly looked forward to final judgment in a future state of existence (compare Ecc 3:17; Ecc 12:14).
This site's exposition
There is a futility that is done on the earth
There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. He calls this too futile and leaves the pattern standing under the sun. Henry and Clarke both note that Job and several Psalms carry the same problem.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In fact, Solomon gives over the entire book of Ecclesiastes to suggesting, with such fullness as he judged adequate, the emptiness of this life, with the ultimate objective, to be sure, of making us yearn for another kind of life which is no unsubstantial shadow under the sun but substantial reality under the sun's Creator. For a person becomes as insubstantial as the insubstantiality that surrounds him, and it is by God's righteous decree that he, too, must pass away like a shadow.
"There is a futility that takes place on earth: sometimes there are righteous men who are treated as if they had done according to the deeds of the wicked; and there are wicked men who are treated as if they had done the deeds of the righteous. I declared, this, too, is vanity.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book 24, Section 44 · Written before 604.
proposed
So Solomon bears witness, saying, "There are just men to whom many things happen, as though they had done the deeds of the wicked; and there are wicked, who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just." God no doubt so ordains it of his inestimable mercy, that scourges should torture the just, lest their doings should elate them, and that the unjust should pass this life at least without punishment, because, by their evil doings, they are hastening onward to those torments that are without end. For that the just are sometimes scourged in no way according to their deserving is shown by this very history that we are considering.
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Above he showed how security arises from the sight of the exaltation of the wicked: here secondly he shows how it arises from the sight of the adversity of the good. And indeed he does this in this order. First, the adversity of the good …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He saw just men to whom it happened according to the work of the wicked, who, notwithstanding their righteousness, suffered very hard things, and continued long to do so, as if they were to be punished for some great wickedness.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
To whom - Who meet with such usage as the worst of men deserve. It happeneth - Who, instead of those punishments which they deserve, receive those rewards which are due to virtuous men.
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The objector adds, as Solomon had said, that the worldling's pursuits are "vanity" (Ec 8:10), "I say (not 'said') this also is vanity. Then I commend mirth," &c. [HOLDEN]. Ec 8:14, 15 may, however, be explained as teaching a cheerful, thankful use of God's gifts "under the sun," that is, not making them the chief good, as sensualists do, which Ec 2:2;
There be just men - See on Ecc 7:16 (note).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And it will not be well with the wicked. Because he does not fear God. 27 Based on this verse, the Gemara in Kiddushin 33b states that any scholar who does not rise before his teacher is considered wicked, will not live long and will forget his learning.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
24 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יֶשׁ־ | yesh- | there | H3426 → | 140 times |
| הֶבֶל֮ | hevel | [is] futility | H1892 → | 73 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| נַעֲשָׂ֣ה | naasah | it is done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאָרֶץ֒ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יֵ֣שׁ | yesh | there | H3426 → | 140 times |
| צַדִּיקִ֗ים | tzadikim | [are] righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | whom | H834 → | 5497 times |
| מַגִּ֤יעַ | magia' | [it is] happening | H5060 → | 150 times |
| אֲלֵהֶם֙ | ʾalehem | to them | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה | kemaaseh | according to [the] deed[s] of | H4639 → | 236 times |
| הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים | hareshaim | <the> wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| וְיֵ֣שׁ | veyesh | and there | H3426 → | 140 times |
| רְשָׁעִ֔ים | reshaim | [are] wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ | shemagia' | [to] whom [it is] happening | H5060 → | 150 times |
| אֲלֵהֶ֖ם | ʾalehem | to them | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה | kemaaseh | according to [the] deed[s] of | H4639 → | 236 times |
| הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים | hatzadikim | <the> righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| אָמַ֕רְתִּי | ʾamarti | I said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שֶׁגַּם־ | shegam- | that also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| זֶ֖ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| הָֽבֶל׃ | havel | [is] futility | H1892 → | 73 times |
יֶשׁ־there
yesh-H3426 →140 times
הֶבֶל֮[is] futility
hevelH1892 →73 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
נַעֲשָׂ֣הit is done
naasahH6213 →2628 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הָאָרֶץ֒the earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀that
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יֵ֣שׁthere
yeshH3426 →140 times
צַדִּיקִ֗ים[are] righteous [people]
tzadikimH6662 →206 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhom
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
מַגִּ֤יעַ[it is] happening
magia'H5060 →150 times
אֲלֵהֶם֙to them
ʾalehemH413 →5510 times
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣הaccording to [the] deed[s] of
kemaasehH4639 →236 times
הָרְשָׁעִ֔ים<the> wicked [people]
hareshaimH7563 →263 times
וְיֵ֣שׁand there
veyeshH3426 →140 times
רְשָׁעִ֔ים[are] wicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
שֶׁמַּגִּ֥יעַ[to] whom [it is] happening
shemagia'H5060 →150 times
אֲלֵהֶ֖םto them
ʾalehemH413 →5510 times
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣הaccording to [the] deed[s] of
kemaasehH4639 →236 times
הַצַּדִּיקִ֑ים<the> righteous [people]
hatzadikimH6662 →206 times
אָמַ֕רְתִּיI said
ʾamartiH559 →5305 times
שֶׁגַּם־that also
shegam-H1571 →769 times
זֶ֖הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
הָֽבֶל׃[is] futility
havelH1892 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
it leads to
- Job 21:7
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live…
- Psalms 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Psalms 37:1
Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
- Job 21:7
Through
Ecclesiastes 7:15In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 8:12–14
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12–14
Through
Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
it leads to
- Psalms 49:10
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
- Proverbs 17:24
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
- Psalms 49:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ecclesiastes
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 20.3; Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book 24, Section 44; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.