The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 8:11 Explained

Ecclesiastes 8:11

KJV: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

YLT: Because sentence hath not been done on an evil work speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of man is full within them to do evil.

Darby: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil.

ASV: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because sentence  against an evil  work  is not executed  speedily,  therefore the heart  of the sons  of men  is fully set  in them to do  evil. 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 8

1  true wisdom is modest
2  Kings are to be respected
6  Divine providence is to be observed
12  It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity
16  The work of God is unsearchable

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 8:11 mean?

Because not is executed the sentence against work an evil speedily upon thus is fully set the heart of the sons of men in them to do evil
אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵין־ נַעֲשָׂ֣ה פִתְגָ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה מְהֵרָ֑ה עַל־ כֵּ֡ן מָלֵ֞א לֵ֧ב בְּֽנֵי־ הָאָדָ֛ם בָּהֶ֖ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָֽע

אֲשֶׁר֙  Because 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נַעֲשָׂ֣ה  is  executed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
פִתְגָ֔ם  the  sentence  against 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פִּתְגָם  
Sense: edict, decree.
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
הָרָעָ֖ה  an  evil 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
מְהֵרָ֑ה  speedily 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְהֵרָה  
Sense: haste, speed.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֡ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
מָלֵ֞א  is  fully  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
לֵ֧ב  the  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
בְּֽנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הָאָדָ֛ם  of  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בָּהֶ֖ם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
רָֽע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.