The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:8 Explained

Ecclesiastes 5:8

KJV: 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.

YLT: If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones are over them.

Darby: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.

ASV: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ecclesiastes 5:8 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 5

1  vanities in divine service
8  in murmuring against oppression
9  and in riches
18  Joy in riches is the gift of God

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 5:8 mean?

If the oppression of the poor and the [violent] perversion of justice and righteousness you see in a province not do marvel at the matter for high [official] over high [official] watches and higher [officials] are over them
אִם־ עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְגֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָצֶ֙דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַמְּדִינָ֔ה אַל־ תִּתְמַ֖הּ עַל־ הַחֵ֑פֶץ כִּ֣י גָבֹ֜הַּ מֵעַ֤ל גָּבֹ֙הַ֙‪‬‪‬ שֹׁמֵ֔ר וּגְבֹהִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם

עֹ֣שֶׁק  the  oppression 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֹשֶׁק  
Sense: oppression, extortion, injury.
רָ֠שׁ  of  the  poor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רוּשׁ  
Sense: to be poor, be in want, lack.
וְגֵ֨זֶל  and  the  [violent]  perversion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גֵּזֶל  
Sense: .
מִשְׁפָּ֤ט  of  justice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וָצֶ֙דֶק֙  and  righteousness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
תִּרְאֶ֣ה  you  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בַמְּדִינָ֔ה  in  a  province 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְדִינָה  
Sense: province, district.
תִּתְמַ֖הּ  do  marvel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: תָּמַהּ  
Sense: to be astounded, be stunned, be amazed, be dumbfounded.
עַל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַחֵ֑פֶץ  the  matter 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
גָבֹ֜הַּ  high  [official] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹהַּ  
Sense: high, exalted.
מֵעַ֤ל  over 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
גָּבֹ֙הַ֙‪‬‪‬  high  [official] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹהַּ  
Sense: high, exalted.
שֹׁמֵ֔ר  watches 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
וּגְבֹהִ֖ים  and  higher  [officials]  are 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גָּבֹהַּ  
Sense: high, exalted.
עֲלֵיהֶֽם  over  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.