Ecclesiastes 10:4 Meaning and Explanation
“If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When a ruler's anger flares against you, do not abandon your post in panic; a calm and yielding spirit can settle even great offenses.
What Does Ecclesiastes 10:4 Mean?
The setting shifts to the royal court, where a servant must navigate the moods of a powerful ruler. The counsel is not to flee or react rashly when anger rises, but to hold one's place with composure. Steadiness, not flight, is the wise response.
The word rendered yielding speaks of a calm, gentle spirit that defuses tension rather than inflaming it. Scripture elsewhere praises the soft answer that turns away wrath. There is deep wisdom in meeting hostility with quiet patience, trusting that humility can quench fires that defiance would only spread.
Ecclesiastes 10:4 in the Original Language
marpe (מַרְפֵּא), 'yielding' -- calmness or gentleness that heals and soothes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 10:4
What does Ecclesiastes 10:4 mean?
When a ruler's anger flares against you, do not abandon your post in panic; a calm and yielding spirit can settle even great offenses.