The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 8:12 Explained

Ecclesiastes 8:12

KJV: Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

YLT: Though a sinner is doing evil a hundred times, and prolonging himself for it, surely also I know that there is good to those fearing God, who fear before Him.

Darby: Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, because they fear before him;

ASV: Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days , yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Though a sinner  do  evil  an hundred times,  and his [days] be prolonged,  yet surely I know  that it shall be well  with them that fear  God,  which fear  before  him: 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:12 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

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 8:12 mean?

Though a sinner does evil a hundred [times] and are prolonged his [days] yet surely know I that it will be well with those who fear God who fear before Him
אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֹטֶ֗א עֹשֶׂ֥ה רָ֛ע מְאַ֖ת וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ ל֑וֹ כִּ֚י גַּם־ יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִהְיֶה־ טּוֹב֙ לְיִרְאֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽירְא֖וּ מִלְּפָנָֽיו

אֲשֶׁ֣ר  Though 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
חֹטֶ֗א  a  sinner 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
עֹשֶׂ֥ה  does 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
רָ֛ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
מְאַ֖ת  a  hundred  [times] 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: מֵאָה 
Sense: hundred.
וּמַאֲרִ֣יךְ  and  are  prolonged 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָרַךְ 
Sense: to be long, prolong.
ל֑וֹ  his  [days] 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
כִּ֚י  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
גַּם־  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
יוֹדֵ֣עַ  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִהְיֶה־  it  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
טּוֹב֙  well 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
לְיִרְאֵ֣י  with  those  who  fear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִֽירְא֖וּ  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מִלְּפָנָֽיו  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.