Month: June 2025

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. Ecclesiastes 5:9 (KJV)

There seems to be a lot of disagreement between scholars on the syntactic make-up of this verse and what it could mean. Provan claims it to be syntactically awkward. (144) This means, that there is a lack of ‘internal coherence’ in this verse wherein it is difficult to relate it to its preceding and following units of thought. (Seow, 204) The verse is like a sudden inclusion of a slogan; and it perhaps needs further amending. But we’ll take Bartholomew’s suggestion and still to a classical reading. The reading is ironic. He writes, “The image evoked is that just rule would facilitate plowed fields throughout the land so that all can benefit from the fruit of the earth. The land should be for all and the king should facilitate justice, but the tone is ironic. The corrupt power relations have spread to the top of the tree and offer no hope of justice for the oppressed.” (186) This reading aligns with the way Henry contrasts the greed of hoarding wealth versus how nature is abundant for everyone else. The folly here is that the labour one puts into hoarding this wealth only strengthens the King who furthers the oppression and corruption on earth.

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic
Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 5:9-17
Provan, I. (2001). Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs: The New Application Commentary, Zondervan
Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press 

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Ecclesiastes 5:8 (KJV)

This verse could also be read as ‘do not marvel at the might of the mighty, for they are also not beyond reproach.’ The phrase ‘violent perverting/perverter’ could also be translated as the ‘arrogant one.’ (Bartholomew, 185; Seow, 204) And it refers to the people on a higher socio-political, and economic status. These arrogant people who seem to get their way done[1], people who are powerful, Qoheleth claims that even their state is not high enough; it is not desirable. As Henry writes, ‘though oppressors be high, God is above them… though oppressors be secure, God has his eye upon them.’ With this verse, Qoheleth begins his discussion of the vanity of wealth and honor. And he begins by discussion the ordinary marvels of life: people at high places.

References:

Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic
Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 5:4-8
Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press 

[1] by oppressing the poor, and perverting justice.