Ecclesiastes 10:5 Meaning and Explanation
“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Preacher names a troubling wrong he has witnessed in the world, one that flows from those who hold power.
What Does Ecclesiastes 10:5 Mean?
This verse introduces the example that follows in verses 6 and 7. The Preacher speaks as an observer of life under the sun, noting an evil that springs not from the lowly but from the ruler himself. Those entrusted with authority can make grievous mistakes.
The phrase under the sun frames this as a feature of the broken world we live in, where power is often misused and order overturned. It is honest about disappointment without despair. Such candor prepares the heart to long for a kingdom rightly governed, where the Ruler makes no errors and justice is never inverted.
Ecclesiastes 10:5 in the Original Language
shegagah (שְׁגָגָה), 'error' -- a mistake or unintended fault, here flowing from one in power.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 10:5
What does Ecclesiastes 10:5 mean?
The Preacher names a troubling wrong he has witnessed in the world, one that flows from those who hold power.