King James Version

What Does Ecclesiastes 8:10 Mean?

Ecclesiastes 8:10 in the King James Version says “And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city wh...” — study this verse from Ecclesiastes chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 8:10 · KJV

Context

8

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. discharge: or, casting off weapons

9

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.

10

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

11

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.

12

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:

Read Ecclesiastes 8 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy—the Hebrew 'qadosh' (קָדוֹשׁ, holy place) likely refers to the Temple or sanctuary where these wicked individuals performed religious duties or maintained public piety. They 'came and went' (ba'u vayehalekhu, בָּאוּ וַיְהַלֵּכוּ) with apparent legitimacy, yet were morally corrupt.

They were forgotten in the city where they had so done—despite their prominence and public religiosity, their memory quickly faded after death. The irony is sharp: those who sought honor through religious appearances gained neither lasting reputation nor divine approval. This verse confronts the gap between public piety and private wickedness, warning that death exposes hypocrisy and that human memory proves unreliable for establishing legacy. Only God's judgment matters eternally (12:14).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Solomon witnessed courtiers and religious officials who maintained external conformity while engaging in corruption—a pattern repeated throughout Israel's history. The Northern Kingdom especially struggled with syncretistic worship combining Yahwism with Canaanite practices (1 Kings 12:25-33). By Jeremiah's time, this hypocrisy reached peak intensity: people frequented the Temple while practicing injustice (Jeremiah 7:1-11). Jesus later condemned similar religious hypocrisy among Pharisees who appeared righteous externally but inwardly were 'full of dead men's bones' (Matthew 23:27). The Preacher's observation that such people are eventually 'forgotten' proved true repeatedly—numerous kings, priests, and officials once prominent are now lost to history.

Reflection Questions

  1. What areas of religious activity in your life might function as external piety masking internal compromise?
  2. How does recognizing that you will be 'forgotten' by future generations reshape your motivation for faithfulness—are you living for human approval or divine commendation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
כֵּן1 of 16

“And so”

H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

רָאִיתִי֩2 of 16

“I saw”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

רְשָׁעִ֨ים3 of 16

“the wicked”

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

קְבֻרִ֜ים4 of 16

“buried”

H6912

to inter

וָבָ֗אוּ5 of 16

“who had come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וּמִמְּק֤וֹם6 of 16

“from the place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

קָדוֹשׁ֙7 of 16

“of the holy”

H6918

sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

יְהַלֵּ֔כוּ8 of 16

“and gone”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וְיִֽשְׁתַּכְּח֥וּ9 of 16

“and they were forgotten”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

בָעִ֖יר10 of 16

“in the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

כֵּן12 of 16

“And so”

H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

עָשׂ֑וּ13 of 16

“where they had so done”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

גַּם14 of 16
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

זֶ֖ה15 of 16
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

הָֽבֶל׃16 of 16

“this is also vanity”

H1892

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ecclesiastes 8:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ecclesiastes 8:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 10:7Ecclesiastes 2:16Ecclesiastes 9:5Acts 6:13Job 21:18Job 21:32-33

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Ecclesiastes 8 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEcclesiastes Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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