The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 8:2 Explained

Ecclesiastes 8:2

KJV: I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

YLT: I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.

Darby: I say, Keep the king's commandment, and that on account of the oath of God.

ASV: I counsel thee , Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I [counsel thee] to keep  the king's  commandment,  and [that] in regard  of the oath  of God. 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:2 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 8:2 mean?

I [say] commandment of the king Keep for the sake of your oath to God
אֲנִי֙ פִּי־ מֶ֣לֶךְ שְׁמ֔וֹר וְעַ֕ל דִּבְרַ֖ת שְׁבוּעַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים

אֲנִי֙  I  [say] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
פִּי־  commandment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
מֶ֣לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
שְׁמ֔וֹר  Keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
דִּבְרַ֖ת  the  sake 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דִּבְרָה  
Sense: cause, manner, reason.
שְׁבוּעַ֥ת  of  your  oath  to 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: oath, curse.
אֱלֹהִֽים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).