The Profit of a Land and the Purpose of a King: The Translation and Interpretation of Ecclesiastes 5:8

What is it about?

Ecclesiastes is a mysterious book which is often difficult to translate. This article seeks to clarify the translation and interpretation of one famously difficult verse, Ecclesiastes 5:8 (5:9 in English translations). When the verse is correctly translated and understood, it highlights the benefit that comes from a national governmental structure (represented by a "king"). The verse is meant to be held in a "healthy tension" with the immediately preceding observation, which noted that corruption often seems to be unavoidable at some level of government (Ecclesiastes 5:7). Governmental structures bring both disadvantages and advantages, and both are on display in Ecclesiastes 5:7-8.

Featured Image

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash