King James Version

Ecclesiastes 8:4

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

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Hebrew

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בַּאֲשֶׁ֥רbaasherin becauseאֲשֶׁרpreposition, particle, relative — “in because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…דְּבַרdevarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…מֶ֖לֶךְmelekhkingמֶלֶךְnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “king”, the ordinary formH4428a kingking, royal.שִׁלְט֑וֹןshiltonpowerשִׁלְטוֹןnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “power”, the ordinary formH7983{power.}power.וּמִ֥יumiand whoמִיconjunction, particle, interrogative — “and who”H4310who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffixany (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God.יֹֽאמַרyomarsayאָמַרverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “say”, an unfinished actionH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…ל֖וֹlvotoל֖וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toמַֽהmahhowמָהparticle, interrogative — “how”H4100properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senseshow (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.תַּעֲשֶֽׂהtaasehdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “do”, an unfinished actionH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Forasmuch as the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him: 'What doest thou?'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For the king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Young’s Literal Translation

Where the word of a king [is] power [is], and who saith to him, 'What dost thou?'

World English Bible

for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Darby Translation

because the word of a king is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Douay-Rheims

And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Forasmuch as the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him: 'What doest thou?'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

καθὼς βασιλεὺς ἐξουσιάζων. καὶ τίς ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ, τί ποιεῖς;