Ecclesiastes 10:5-7
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just say rulers make mistakes; it suggests their errors are like a specific kind of oversight, similar to an involuntary sin of ignorance. This hints that the real evil isn't necessarily malicious intent, but a fundamental blindness or misjudgment stemming from their position, leading to the wrong people being placed in power.
Solomon is reflecting on a pervasive problem he's observed in the world: the improper placement of people in positions of power. He introduces this verse by noting an injustice stemming from those in charge, which the following verses will clarify means foolish or unworthy individuals are given high status while competent people are overlooked. This mismanagement, he suggests, is a significant flaw under the sun.
Ever feel like the world's gone upside down? Like unqualified people are in charge and wise ones are overlooked? Solomon calls this an 'evil' he saw.
Solomon uses the word 'error' (or 'mistake') here, but it's not just a minor slip-up. Think of it like a foundational flaw, a misstep that has wide-reaching consequences.
What kind of error?
This 'error' isn't necessarily malicious, but it's deeply wrong and damaging.
Solomon says this 'evil' is as it were an error. What’s the big deal about those three little words?
The phrase 'as it were' or 'like' (in the original language) adds a crucial layer of nuance. It suggests that what Solomon observed appeared to be an error, or was like an error in its outcome, but might be interpreted in a few ways:
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Moral depravity or calamity; something that is contrary to God's created order and causes suffering or injustice in the world.
shegagah · Hebrew Noun
A mistake, oversight, or wandering from the truth; an action that deviates from the right way or wisdom.
siklût · Hebrew Noun
A lack of good sense, moral deficiency, or the rejection of divine wisdom; it is a fundamental category in Wisdom literature describing the person who ignores God's ways.
‘āšîr · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to individuals who possess worldly goods or influence; in a biblical context, wealth is often contrasted with spiritual status or divine favor.
This passage highlights how rebellion against God's command is seen as a kind of error, mirroring the idea of a mistake stemming from a position of authority, just as Ecclesiastes 10:5 speaks of an error from a ruler.
Proverbs 28:2This proverb directly links the instability of a land to frequent changes in its rulers, underscoring how errors in leadership, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 10:5, can lead to widespread trouble.
Isaiah 3:2-3Here, the prophet lists a failure of leadership – the removal of competent officials and the elevation of the unqualified – as a cause for a land's downfall, directly paralleling the 'error from the ruler' described in Ecclesiastes.
Romans 13:1-2Paul affirms that governing authorities are established by God, which implies a divine order; an 'error proceeding from the ruler' then, as seen in Ecclesiastes, represents a disruption of this God-ordained order.
Matthew 20:25-28Jesus corrects the disciples' understanding of authority, contrasting the gentile rulers who lord over others with the servant leadership He calls His followers to, showing that an error from a ruler can be a misuse of power away from true service.
ellicottEcclesiastes 10:5: "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"
(5) Error.— The word is the same as at Ecclesiastes 10:6 .
henryEcclesiastes 10:4-10: "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences."
10:4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties,…
The text doesn't just say rulers make mistakes; it suggests their errors are like a specific kind of oversight, similar to an involuntary sin of ignorance. This hints that the real evil isn't necessarily malicious intent, but a fundamental blindness or misjudgment stemming from their position, leading to the wrong people being placed in power.
Solomon is reflecting on a pervasive problem he's observed in the world: the improper placement of people in positions of power. He introduces this verse by noting an injustice stemming from those in charge, which the following verses will clarify means foolish or unworthy individuals are given high status while competent people are overlooked. This mismanagement, he suggests, is a significant flaw under the sun.
Solomon is reflecting on a pervasive problem he's observed in the world: the improper placement of people in positions of power. He introduces this verse by noting an injustice stemming from those in charge, which the following verses will clarify means foolish or unworthy individuals are given high status while competent people are overlooked. This mismanagement, he suggests, is a significant flaw under the sun.
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The key is that regardless of intent, the result is an evil that disrupts God's intended order.
‘ăḇāḏîm · Hebrew Noun
Individuals held in legal bondage or servitude; used in Scripture to denote a status of submission, sometimes applied metaphorically to one's relationship with God or sin.
śārîm · Hebrew Noun
Men of noble birth, high social standing, or authority; throughout the Bible, princes are expected to exercise righteous leadership under God's sovereignty.
"There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves." — The text doesn't just say rulers make mistakes; it suggests their errors are like a specific kind of oversight, similar to an involuntary sin of ignorance. This hints that the real evil isn't neces…
