Bible study online

Ecclesiastes 7:8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Verse 8 of 29

Scripture focus

Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:8

Theological / Devotional

A thing. The Hebrew word thus translated more often means “word” or “remark.” It is rare that one can see in advance the ultimate influence a word or remark may have.

Patient in spirit. The root of the word translated “patient” means “to be long.” Thus a person “patient in spirit” is, literally, “long of spirit.” Contrast the expression “hasty of spirit” (Prov. 14:29). A similar usage appears in the NT, where “patiently endured” (Heb. 6:15) and “be ye also patient” (James 5:8) are, literally, “be long of soul.”

Proud in spirit. Literally, “high,” or “exalted in spirit” (see Ps. 138:6; Isa. 5:15; 10:33; cf. Jer. 13:1-15).

By SdaBc