Scripture · Old Testament
Ecclesiastes 8:4
Ecclesiastes 8:4 is verse 4 of Ecclesiastes chapter 8, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.
Berean Standard Bible
For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
King James Version
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
World English Bible
for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 8:2–6 · Berean Standard Bible
2 Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.
3 Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
4 For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.
6 For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 8Hebrew words
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Study Ecclesiastes 8:4
Cross-references
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.
1 Kings 2:25So King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.
1 Kings 2:29It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”
1 Kings 2:30And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”
1 Kings 2:31And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
1 Kings 2:32The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
1 Kings 2:33Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”
1 Kings 2:34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.
1 Kings 2:46Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.
Proverbs 19:12A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
Proverbs 30:31a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
Daniel 3:15Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
Luke 12:4I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Luke 12:5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Romans 13:1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Romans 13:2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
Romans 13:4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Job 33:12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
Job 33:13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
Job 34:18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
Job 34:19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
Romans 9:20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”