The interpretation timeline

Eccl 8:4

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Eccl 8:4 · Douay-Rheims

“And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?”

Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500

1274

A.D.

Bonaventure Medieval

c. A.D. 1221–1274

“He also acts easily; therefore he says: And His word is full of power, the Psalm: "The voice of the Lord in power, the voice of the Lord breaking the cedars": and Jeremiah 32: "No word shall be difficult for You, who show mercy unto thousands." He also acts irreproachably: Nor can anyone say to Him: Why do You act thus? Romans 9: "Who are you to answer back to God"?”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.