
Text -- Ecclesiastes 10:5 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB -> Ecc 10:5
Rather, "by reason of an error" [MAURER and HOLDEN].
Clarke -> Ecc 10:5
Clarke: Ecc 10:5 - -- An error which proceedeth from the ruler - What this error in the ruler is, the two following verses point out: it is simpiy this - an injudicious d...
An error which proceedeth from the ruler - What this error in the ruler is, the two following verses point out: it is simpiy this - an injudicious distribution of offices, and raising people to places of trust and confidence, who are destitute of merit, are neither of name nor family to excite public confidence, and are without property; so that they have no stake in the country, and their only solicitude must naturally be to enrich themselves, and provide for their poor relatives. This is frequent in the governments of the world; and favouritism has often brought prosperous nations to the brink of ruin. Folly was set in dignity; the man of property, sense, and name, in a low place. Servants - menial men, rode upon horses - carried every thing with a high and proud hand; and princes, - the nobles of the people, were obliged to walk by their sides, and often from the state of things to become in effect their servants. This was often the case in this country, during the reign of Thomas a Becket, and Cardinal Woolsey. These insolent men lorded it over the whole nation; and the people and their gentry were raised or depressed according as their pride and caprice willed. And, through this kind of errors, not only a few sovereigns have had most uncomfortable and troublesome reigns, but some have even lost their lives.
TSK -> Ecc 10:5

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole -> Ecc 10:5
Poole: Ecc 10:5 - -- I have observed another great vanity and misdemeanour amongst men.
As an error which proceedeth from the ruler so the sense is, like those errors ...
I have observed another great vanity and misdemeanour amongst men.
As an error which proceedeth from the ruler so the sense is, like those errors which rulers commonly commit. Or rather, which is indeed an error proceeding from the ruler ; for the following miscarriage must needs come from those who have power of conferring honour and power, &c. So the Hebrew caph is not a note of likeness, but of reality, as it is Jud 13:23 Neh 7:2 Hos 4:4 5:10 , and oft elsewhere.
Haydock -> Ecc 10:5
Prince, who seems to have been guilty of any indiscretion.
Gill -> Ecc 10:5
Gill: Ecc 10:5 - -- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,.... Which Solomon had observed in the course of his life, practised in some kingdoms and by some pr...
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,.... Which Solomon had observed in the course of his life, practised in some kingdoms and by some princes on earth, under the sun; for there is nothing of the like kind, as after mentioned, done in heaven, above the sun;
as an error which proceedeth from the ruler; from the supreme ruler of a nation, the king of it; and it is not only as an error, or like one, a seeming one; but it is a real error, bestowing places of honour and profit on undeserving persons: which error proceeds from ignorance of the persons; or from affection to them, and from friendship cultivated with them in the younger time of life, being educated with them; or through the misrepresentation and imposition of those about him, who have ends to serve by their promotion; or through his own lusts and passions, which these men indulge him in. It may be understood of God, the supreme ruler, who suffers such things to be; and which may seem to some an error in providence, though it is not: but the other sense is best.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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 10:5
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 10:5 - --
"There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler."The introduction by the virtual relative raithi i...
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...
