Ecclesiastes 3:16
Ecclesiastes 3:16 in Multiple Translations
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
¶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
And again, I saw under the sun, in the place of the judges, that evil was there; and in the place of righteousness, that evil was there.
I also observed that here on earth there was evil even in the place where there was supposed to be justice; even where things were meant to be right, there was evil.
And moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.
And again, I have seen under the sun the place of judgment — there [is] the wicked; and the place of righteousness — there [is] the wicked.
Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity.
Furthermore, I saw that on this earth [MTY], even in the courts where we expect judges to make right decisions about what people had done, they did many wicked [DOU] things.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ecclesiastes 3:16
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Ecclesiastes 3:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ecclesiastes 3:16
Study Notes — Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Context
- Cross References
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Barnes' Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
- Sermons on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Context — From Dust to Dust
16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.” 18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 4:1 | Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 5:8 | If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. |
| 3 | Psalms 94:21–22 | They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge. |
| 4 | Acts 23:3 | Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” |
| 5 | Psalms 58:1–2 | Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men? No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth. |
| 6 | Psalms 82:2–5 | “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. |
| 7 | 1 Kings 21:9–21 | In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people. And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.” When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.” And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Get up and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. See, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, of which he has gone to take possession. Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ” When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free. |
| 8 | Isaiah 59:14 | So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. |
| 9 | Micah 2:2 | They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. |
| 10 | Matthew 26:59 | Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. |
Ecclesiastes 3:16 Summary
[This verse is saying that even in places where we expect to find fairness and justice, we often find evil and corruption instead, which can be discouraging and frustrating. However, as believers, we can trust that God is still in control and will ultimately judge all people for their actions, as stated in Ecclesiastes 3:17. We can also take comfort in the fact that God is not surprised by the wickedness in the world, and that He has a plan to redeem and restore all things, as described in Revelation 21:5. By trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness, we can have hope and peace even in the midst of wickedness, as promised in Isaiah 26:3.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that there is wickedness in the place of judgment?
This means that even in places where justice should be upheld, such as courts, there is often corruption and evil instead, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:16, and this is a result of the fallen nature of humanity, as described in Romans 3:23.
How can there be wickedness in the place of righteousness?
This phrase suggests that even in places or situations where righteousness should be the standard, such as in churches or among religious leaders, wickedness can still be found, as seen in Matthew 23:27-28, where Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
Is the author of Ecclesiastes saying that God is responsible for the wickedness?
No, the author is not saying that God is responsible for the wickedness, but rather that He allows it to exist for a time, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:16, and that He will ultimately judge all people for their actions, as stated in Ecclesiastes 3:17 and Romans 2:16.
What is the purpose of God allowing wickedness to exist?
The purpose of God allowing wickedness to exist is not fully understood, but it may be to test humanity's character, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3:18, and to ultimately bring about a greater good, as described in Romans 8:28, where it is written that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
Reflection Questions
- How do you see wickedness in the place of judgment in your own life or community, and what can you do to stand against it?
- In what ways can you be a beacon of righteousness in a world filled with wickedness, as described in Matthew 5:14-16?
- How does the existence of wickedness in the world affect your faith in God's goodness and sovereignty, and what scriptures can you turn to for comfort and guidance?
- What are some ways that you can personally work to uphold righteousness and justice in your own sphere of influence, as encouraged in Micah 6:8?
Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Trapp's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Ellicott's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Cambridge Bible on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Barnes' Notes on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Whedon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:16
Sermons on Ecclesiastes 3:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Tragedies of Life by David Hocking | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the tragedies of life as described in Ecclesiastes chapter 4. He highlights the oppression and lack of comfort experienced by the oppressed, |
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Vanities Social and Political. 4:1-16 by W.J. Erdman | In this sermon by W.J. Erdman, the preacher reflects on the endless cycle of vanity and hopelessness that plagues humanity. He observes the oppression and suffering in the world, l |
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James Chapter 7 the Practical Hope of the Lord's Coming by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of patience in the face of suffering and injustice, urging believers to hold onto the hope of the Lord's coming as a source of strength and c |
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The Practical Hope of the Lord's Coming by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the practical hope found in the Lord's coming, urging believers to be patient amidst trials and injustices, as the coming of the Lord brings ultimate justic |
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Babies Are Murdered Here (Documentary Trailer) by Jon Speed | This sermon addresses the issue of abortion as a curse and judgment on the nation, questioning the silence and inaction of the church in the face of innocent lives being taken. It |
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Holl-09 Israel in the Cosmic Drama by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a prophetic perspective that considers eternity and its impact on the present. He calls out the church in Holland to |
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David's Prayer for Relief by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith shares the story of how God transformed the lives of 10 men, including Greg Laurie, Raul Rees, Mike McIntosh, John Corson, and Skip Heitzig, who |






