Ecclesiastes 9:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1-3

It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers? stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many other useful discoveries and experiments. Thus Solomon, when, in the close of the foregoing chapter, he applied his heart to know the work of God, and took a great deal of pains to search into it, though he despaired of finding it out, yet he found out that which abundantly recompensed him for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all ,.... A very great evil, a very sore one, the worst of evils. Not an evil, as the providence of God is concerned with it, who does no evil; nor is there any unrighteousness in him; he is righteous in all his ways: but this is an evil, and distressing thing, to the minds of good men; see Psalm 73:2 ; and is what bad men make an ill use of, to harden themselves in sin, and to despise religion... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:3

The heart of the sons of men is full of evil - No wonder then that the curse of God should be frequent in the earth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

One fate happens to all, and the dead are cut off from all the feelings and interests of life in the upper world. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun . The "evil" is explained in the following words, which speak of the common fate. The Vulgate (followed by Ginsburg and others) lakes the first words as equivalent to a superlative: Hoc est pessimum inter omnia, "This is the greatest evil of all that is done under the sun." But the article would have been used in this case; nor would this accurately express Koheleth's sentiments. He looks upon death only as one of the evils... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:3

Compare Ecclesiastes 8:11. The seeming indiscriminateness of the course of events tends to encourage evil-disposed men in their folly. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:2-3

Ecclesiastes 9:2-3. All things come alike to all The good and evil things of this world equally happen to good and bad men; as is the good, so is the sinner As to all outward things. This is an evil, &c. A great trouble and temptation to a considerate and good man; yea, also the heart of the sons of men Of wicked men, such as the generality of mankind are; is full of evil Of wickedness; and madness is in their heart Upon this account they go on madly and desperately in evil... 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 9:3

an evil. The Preposition (= B) in bebol, gives the force of the superlative: i.e. the greatest or worst calamity of all, &c. evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a' App-44 . under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 . madness. Plural as elsewhere. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:17 . they go. Omit these words and note the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ), "and after that to the dead! "See the following note. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:3

Ecclesiastes 9:3. This is an evil among all things— This is an evil in all that happeneth under the sun, that the fate of all is alike; and also that the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil. Nay, they love that while they live which hath nothing but a fair appearance, and after that they go to the dead. They love vanities; they set their heart upon that which appears to them to be love-worthy; and as they walk, according to David's phrase, Psa 39:6 in a vain show, they may be said to... read more