Ecclesiastes 9:4-5 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 . For to him that is joined to all the living That continues with living men; there is hope He hath not only some comfort for the present, but also hopes of further and greater happiness in this world, which men are very prone to entertain and cherish in themselves. Yea, he may have the hopes of a better life, if he improve his opportunities. For a living dog is better than a dead lion Much happier as to the comforts of this world. “The meanest and most contemptible... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

Life’s opportunities (9:1-12)A person may believe that life is under the control of God, but still not know whether the experiences one meets in life are a sign of God’s pleasure or a sign of his anger. The same fate, death, comes to all (9:1-3). Good people have no advantage over the bad. The only advantage is that of the living over the dead. The living can still do things, but the dead are useless and forgotten (4-6).Therefore, people should enjoy life to the full while they have the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined. Connect this with the end of preceding verse and render "For who is excepted? To all the living", &c. hope = confidence. Hebrew. bittahon (from batah) . App-69 . Occurs only here, 2 Kings 18:19 , and Isaiah 36:4 . a living dog, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia, App-6 . Same proverb in Arabic. living dog. Regarded by the Jews as the most unclean and despicable creature (1 Samuel 17:43 ; 1 Samuel 24:14 . 2Sa 9:8 ; 2 Samuel 16:9 . 2 Kings 8:13 .Matthew 7:6 ;... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:5

the dead know not any thing. See and Compare Ecclesiastes 9:10 . Psalms 6:5 ; Psalms 30:9 ; Psalms 31:17 ; Psalms 88:11 .Isaiah 38:18 , Isaiah 38:19 . a reward = any advantage [to them]. memory = the faculty of remembering. See note on "them", below. them. The Hebrew suffix "them" must be taken as the subject in all the four nouns alike. As in Ecclesiastes 9:6 , the possessive pronoun "their" is, and must be, taken alike in each case. is forgotten = ceases to exist, as in Psalms 77:9 ,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:4

Ecclesiastes 9:4. For to him that is joined to all the living, there is hope— And surely, whoever is in society, with all the living, hath hope. For a living dog hath a better chance than a dead lion. The last sentence may be literally rendered thus: Good shall rather happen to a living dog than to a dead lion; which is the foundation of hope expressed in the words immediately preceding. It is very evident, that Solomon speaks in these verses solely of a man's state with respect to this world;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:4

4. For—rather, "Nevertheless." English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, "that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be chosen?" hope—not of mere temporal good (Job 14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved. dog—metaphor for the vilest persons (1 Samuel 24:14). lion—the noblest of animals (Proverbs 30:30). better—as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:5

5. know that they shall die—and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4; Psalms 90:12). dead know not anything—that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (Job 14:21; Isaiah 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth. neither . . . reward—no advantage from their worldly labors (Ecclesiastes 2:18-22; Ecclesiastes 4:9). memory—not of the righteous (Psalms... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

C. Man’s Ignorance of the Future 9:1-11:6The emphasis in this section (Ecclesiastes 9:1 to Ecclesiastes 11:6) is on what man does not know because God has not revealed many things. Solomon also emphasized, however, that the remaining mystery in this subject (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17) must not diminish human joy (Ecclesiastes 9:1-9) or prevent us from working with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10 to Ecclesiastes 11:6). [Note: Kaiser, Ecclesiastes . . ., p. 92.] The subsections that follow begin "no... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

1. The future of the righteous on earth 9:1-10 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

However, the inequities in life and the certainty of death should not make us give up on living. Life is better than death. In the ancient Near East, people despised wild dogs and they honored lions. Solomon’s point was that it is better to be alive and have no honor, than dead and receive honor, because the living person also has consciousness and hope. The living can enjoy life, but the dead cannot."The dead do not know anything" does not mean they are insensible. Later revelation indicates... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:4

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:5

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

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