
Text -- Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
The passion.

Wesley: Ecc 10:4 - -- In anger or discontent. Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, and modestly and humbly submit to him.
In anger or discontent. Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, and modestly and humbly submit to him.
Anger.
Clarke: Ecc 10:4 - -- If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee - If the king get incensed against thee
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee - If the king get incensed against thee

Clarke: Ecc 10:4 - -- Leave not thy place - Humble thyself before him, that is thy place and duty; for yielding to him, and not standing stoutly in thy defense, pacifieth...
Leave not thy place - Humble thyself before him, that is thy place and duty; for yielding to him, and not standing stoutly in thy defense, pacifieth great offenses: and then, when his anger is appeased, he will hear any thing in thy justification, if thou have any thing to offer. This is good advice to a child in reference to his parents, and to an inferior of any kind in reference to his superiors
Several of the fathers understood this differently, It the spirit of the ruler - the influence of Satan - hath risen up against and prevailed over thee, to bring thee into some sin; leave not thy place - do not despair of God’ s mercy; humble thyself before him, and seek pardon through the Son of his love, and this will be
TSK -> Ecc 10:4

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Ecc 10:4
Barnes: Ecc 10:4 - -- If the spirit ... - i. e., If he is angry. Leave not thy place - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on...
If the spirit ... - i. e., If he is angry.
Leave not thy place - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either.
Poole -> Ecc 10:4
Poole: Ecc 10:4 - -- The spirit the passion or wrath, as is manifest from the following words, which is oft called spirit, as Jud 8:3 2Ch 21:16 Pro 25:28 Ecc 7:9 .
Leave...
The spirit the passion or wrath, as is manifest from the following words, which is oft called spirit, as Jud 8:3 2Ch 21:16 Pro 25:28 Ecc 7:9 .
Leave not thy place to wit, in anger or discontent. Withdraw not thyself rashly and hastily from his presence and service, according to the advice, Ecc 8:3 . Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, as becomes a subject; do not return anger for anger, but modestly and humbly submit thyself to him.
Yielding Heb. healing ; a gentle and submissive carriage, which is of a healing nature; whereas pride and passion do exasperate and widen the breach already made. Pacifieth , Heb. maketh them to rest or cease ; preventeth or removeth them.
Great offences Heb. great sins ; either,
1. Such sins as the offended ruler might commit in the prosecution of his wrath against thee. Or rather,
2. Such as possibly thou hast committed against him, for which he is incensed against thee; or the greatest offences or injuries that one man commits against another, and much more those slight miscarriages of thine towards the ruler. Let not therefore a false opinion concerning his unreconcilableness to thee make thee desperate, and draw thee into rebellion.
Haydock -> Ecc 10:4
Haydock: Ecc 10:4 - -- Place. If the devil tempt or persuade thee to sin, repent and humble thyself; or if thou hast offended the great, shew submission.
Place. If the devil tempt or persuade thee to sin, repent and humble thyself; or if thou hast offended the great, shew submission.
Gill -> Ecc 10:4
Gill: Ecc 10:4 - -- If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,.... The wrath of the civil magistrate, the chief ruler of the land, the sovereign prince or king, to ...
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,.... The wrath of the civil magistrate, the chief ruler of the land, the sovereign prince or king, to whom men are and should be subject: if his wrath on any occasion breaks out in a furious manner, and, like a storm and tempest, is very blustering and threatening:
leave not thy place; at court; thine office under the prince, do not throw it up in a passion, and quit his service upon it; and much less forget thy duty and allegiance to him, and go into disloyalty and rebellion; see Ecc 8:3;
for yielding pacifieth great offences; bearing his anger patiently, submitting to his displeasure quietly, making no returns, or at least giving soft answers, and behaving in a modest and humble manner; in time his wrath will subside, and he will be pacified, and forgive the offences committed; or be convinced that there were none, or however not so great as to require such resentment; see Pro 15:1. The Targum is,
"if a spirit of evil concupiscence rules over thee; thy good place, in which thou wert used to stand, leave not:''
some understand this of a man's having a spirit of rule and government coming upon him, or of his being advanced to power and authority, that then he should not forget the low estate in which he had been. Jarchi interprets it of the spirit of the governor of the world, strictly inquiring into the actions of men; and healing their sins by chastisements, which cause them to leave them.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Ecc 10:4 The verbal root נוח means “to leave behind; to leave untouched” (HALOT 680 s.v. I נוח 2) in general, a...
Geneva Bible -> Ecc 10:4
Geneva Bible: Ecc 10:4 If the ( c ) spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
( c ) If your superior is angry wit...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Ecc 10:1-20
TSK Synopsis: Ecc 10:1-20 - --1 Observations of wisdom and folly;16 of riot;18 slothfulness;19 and money.20 Men's thoughts of kings ought to be reverent.
MHCC -> Ecc 10:4-10
MHCC: Ecc 10:4-10 - --Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; ...
Matthew Henry -> Ecc 10:4-11
Matthew Henry: Ecc 10:4-11 - -- The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon's reign the people were very rich, and lived in prospe...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Ecc 10:4
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 10:4 - --
This verse shows what is the wise conduct of a subject, and particularly of a servant, when the anger of the ruler breaks forth: "If the ill-humour ...
Constable: Ecc 6:10--11:7 - --III. THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM 6:10--11:6
Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of 6:10-11:6. The phr...

Constable: Ecc 9:1--11:7 - --C. Man's Ignorance of the Future 9:1-11:6
The emphasis in this section (9:1-11:6) is on what man does no...
