Ecclesiastes 8:12
in Ecclesiastes 8Although 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
KJV
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
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This verse in Ecclesiastes 8
Commentary
10 notes on this verse"Because a sinner does what is wrong an hundred times and He is patient with him, yet nevertheless I am aware that it will be well with those who fear God that they may fear Him. "Because a sinner has done many wicked deeds, this is what is meant by, 'an hundred times': God gives a time for repentance, and does not punish him immediately for his crime, but he waits so that he is converted by his wickedness. I understand how good-willing and forgiving God will be to those who fear Him and tremble at His word.
This site's exposition
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times
on Ecclesiastes 8:12-13
The Teacher answers verse 11: Although a sinner does evil and still lives long, he knows it will go well with those who fear God. The wicked do not fear God, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. The two verses hold both truths without resolving them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCommentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Here the third point is touched upon, how from this is drawn the benefit for the good, because from this the good come to know divine mercy and are exercised in justice. Therefore he says: Yet the sinner, and the text should be construed thus: …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times,.... That is ever so many times, a certain number for an uncertain; though he lives in a continued course of sin, being resolved upon the above consideration to give himself a swing to his lusts. The Targum renders it a hundred years; though be should live so long in sin, yet at last should be accursed Isa 65:
The Mysteries of Providence. 14 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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:96%@v14-15
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
He says this, lest the sinner should abuse the statement (Ec 7:15), "A wicked man prolongeth his life." before him--literally, "at His presence"; reverently serve Him, realizing His continual presence.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 148: “Five Fears” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1857)
proposed
I HAVE heard it sometimes said by wicked men, when they would arraign the justice of the Most High, that it is unjust that God should condemn men for the use of the powers which he himself has given them. This most subtle evil has often grieved the hearts of those who are weak and ignorant, and have not seen its untruthfulness—for to speak plainly of it, it is a gross lie.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 148: “Five Fears” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1857)
proposed
I HAVE heard it sometimes said by wicked men, when they would arraign the justice of the Most High, that it is unjust that God should condemn men for the use of the powers which he himself has given them. This most subtle evil has often grieved the hearts of those who are weak and ignorant, and have not seen its untruthfulness—for to speak plainly of it, it is a gross lie. God does not condemn men for the use of the powers he has given them; he condemns them for the misuse of those powers; not for employing them, but for employing them as they ought not to employ them; not for thinking, not for speaking, not for doing, but for thinking, speaking, and doing, contrary to his law God damneth no man for the use of the powers which he hath given him, let that be again repeated—but he doth condemn them for the abuse of those powers, and for their impudence in daring to turn those powers, which he hath given them, for his honor, against his service, and against his throne Now, my friends, there is no power which God hath given us, which may not be employed for God. I believe that David uttered a great truth, as well as a great exhortation to himself, when he said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” There is nothing in man that God has not there, which may not be employed in God’s service. Some may ask me whether anger can be brought in. I answer, yes. A good man may serve God by being angry against sin; and to be angry against sin is a high and holy thing. You may ask me, perhaps, whether ridicule can be employed. I answer, yes. I believe we may even rightly employ it in the preaching of God’s word.
Though a sinner do evil a hundred times - If God bear so long with a transgressor, waiting in his longsuffering for him to repent and turn to him, surely he will be peculiarly kind to them that fear him, and endeavor to walk uprightly before him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His days be prolonged - i. e., in his wickedness Ecc 8:8. “I” is emphatic, as if to mark the opposition to the “sons of men” Ecc 8:11.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Though a sinner, etc. Because they see that the sinner does evil a hundred thousand and myriads [of times], and the Holy One, Blessed Is He, grants him an extension without meting out retribution.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Because the execution of sentence. Punishment for the evil deeds [is not done] quickly. For the Holy One, Blessed Is He, does not rush to mete out retribution upon the evildoers, and therefore, they think that there is no judgment, and they are encouraged to do evil.
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
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| חֹטֶ֗א | chote' | a sinner | H2398 → | 238 times |
| עֹשֶׂ֥ה | ʾoseh | [is] doing | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| רָ֛ע | ra' | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| מְאַ֖ת | meat | a hundred [times] | H3967 → | |
| וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ | umaarikh | and [he is] prolonging | H748 → | 34 times |
| ל֑וֹ | lo | for <the> himself | ||
| כִּ֚י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| גַּם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| יוֹדֵ֣עַ | yodea' | [am] knowing | H3045 → | 945 times |
| אָ֔נִי | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִהְיֶה־ | yihyeh- | it will belong | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| טּוֹב֙ | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| לְיִרְאֵ֣י | leyirei | to [those] fearing | H3373 → | 64 times |
| הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים | haelohim | <of the> God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִֽירְא֖וּ | yireu | they fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
| מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃ | milefanav | from to before him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
אֲשֶׁ֣רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
חֹטֶ֗אa sinner
chote'H2398 →238 times
עֹשֶׂ֥ה[is] doing
ʾosehH6213 →2628 times
רָ֛עevil
ra'H7451 →662 times
מְאַ֖תa hundred [times]
meatH3967 →
וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְand [he is] prolonging
umaarikhH748 →34 times
ל֑וֹfor <the> himself
lo
כִּ֚יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
גַּם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
יוֹדֵ֣עַ[am] knowing
yodea'H3045 →945 times
אָ֔נִיI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
אֲשֶׁ֤רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִהְיֶה־it will belong
yihyeh-H1961 →3559 times
טּוֹב֙good
tovH2896 →538 times
לְיִרְאֵ֣יto [those] fearing
leyireiH3373 →64 times
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים<of the> God
haelohimH430 →2601 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִֽירְא֖וּthey fear
yireuH3372 →315 times
מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃from to before him
milefanavH6440 →2123 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 37:11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Matthew 5:5
Through
2 Peter 2:9if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:15–19
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will…
- Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the…
- Psalms 34:15–19
Through
Luke 1:50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
it leads to
- Psalms 103:17–18
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Exodus 20:6
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- Psalms 103:17–18
Where this verse is studied
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); Bonaventure, Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes; Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 148: “Five Fears” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.