The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 8:9 Explained

Ecclesiastes 8:9

KJV: All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

YLT: All this I have seen so as to give my heart to every work that hath been done under the sun; a time that man hath ruled over man to his own evil.

Darby: All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time when man ruleth man to his hurt.

ASV: All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

All this have I seen,  and applied  my heart  unto every work  that is done  under the sun:  [there is] a time  wherein one man  ruleth  over another to his own hurt. 

What does Ecclesiastes 8:9 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 8:9 mean?

This all and this I have seen and applied to every my heart to every work that is done under the sun [There is] a time in which rules one man over another To hurt his own
אֶת־ כָּל־ זֶ֤ה רָאִ֙יתִי֙ וְנָת֣וֹן אֶת־ לִבִּ֔י לְכָֽל־ מַעֲשֶׂ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֵ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֧ט הָאָדָ֛ם בְּאָדָ֖ם לְרַ֥ע לֽוֹ

אֶת־  This 
Parse: Pro
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
זֶ֤ה  and  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
רָאִ֙יתִי֙  I  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְנָת֣וֹן  and  applied 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶת־  to  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לִבִּ֔י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לְכָֽל־  to  every 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַעֲשֶׂ֔ה  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נַעֲשָׂ֖ה  is  done 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
תַּ֣חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
עֵ֗ת  [There  is]  a  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר  in  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׁלַ֧ט  rules 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַט  
Sense: to domineer, exercise power over, dominate, have mastery, be master, lord it over.
הָאָדָ֛ם  one  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בְּאָדָ֖ם  over  another 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
לְרַ֥ע  To  hurt 
Parse: Preposition, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
לֽוֹ  his  own 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular