Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 10:5
There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Teacher addresses readers observing life under the sun, continuing his examination of governance immediately after advising patience toward a ruler's temper in Ecclesiastes 10:4.
The words — The term כִּשְגָגָה (ki-sh.ga.Gah) translates as an inadvertent mistake or error, directly modifying the declared evil (רָעָה, ra.'Ah) that proceeds from leadership.
The thread — The formulaic introduction of observed systemic wrongs under the sun recurs in Ecclesiastes 3:16, 5:13, and 6:1, each marking a distinct structural failure in human affairs.
Why it lands — The text records that leadership produces unintended harm, requiring readers to anticipate administrative errors rather than assume perfect governance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 5:13 There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
- Ecclesiastes 6:1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
- Ecclesiastes 4:1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
- Ecclesiastes 4:7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.