Ecclesiastes 8:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But things will not go well with the wicked; and, like a shadow, he will not prolong his days; because he doesn't fear God.

Berean Standard Bible:

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

American Standard Version:

but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But it shall not be well^{H2896} with the wicked^{H7563}, neither shall he prolong^{H748} his days^{H3117}, which are as a shadow^{H6738}; because he feareth^{H3373} not before^{H6440} God^{H430}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Ecclesiastes 8:13

Ecclesiastes 8:13 is a verse from the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally attributed to Solomon, the King of Israel. This book is known for its philosophical reflections on the meaning of life and the human condition. The verse reflects on the fate of the wicked, stating that their lives will not go well, nor will they have a long life. Their days are likened to a shadow, which is fleeting and insubstantial, emphasizing the transient nature of life.

The central theme of this verse is the concept of divine justice and retribution. It suggests that those who do not live righteously and do not fear (or respect or revere) God will not only fail to prosper but will also face the consequences of their actions. The verse echoes the broader wisdom tradition in the Hebrew Bible, which often contrasts the ultimate fates of the righteous and the wicked, reinforcing the idea that righteousness is rewarded and wickedness is punished, if not in this life, then in the divine order.

Historically, this verse would have resonated with an ancient Israelite audience familiar with the covenantal theology that promised blessings for obedience to God's laws and curses for disobedience. It also reflects the human experience of observing the apparent prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, a tension that the book of Ecclesiastes grapples with throughout its chapters. The Teacher, the narrator of Ecclesiastes, often questions the fairness of life's outcomes but ultimately affirms the sovereignty of God and the importance of living a life that honors the divine.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2896
   There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טוֹב
   Transliteration: ṭôwb
   Pronunciation: tobe
   Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
   
2. Strong's Number: H7563
   There are 249 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָשָׁע
   Transliteration: râshâʻ
   Pronunciation: raw-shaw'
   Description: from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
   
3. Strong's Number: H748
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָרַךְ
   Transliteration: ʼârak
   Pronunciation: aw-rak'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively); defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6738
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צֵל
   Transliteration: tsêl
   Pronunciation: tsale
   Description: from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3373
   There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵא
   Transliteration: yârêʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
   Description: from יָרֵא; fearing; morally, reverent; afraid, fear (-ful).
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
8. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.