Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

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 9:5

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 9:6

perished . Like the knowledge and memory of Ecclesiastes 9:5 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:6

Ecclesiastes 9:6. Also their love, &c.— We have from Ecc 9:4 to the present, the second reason. It is certain, that the dead are excluded from any participation, not only of the pleasure of this world, but likewise of all affairs belonging to it. The most unfortunate in the world may hope to see a happy change in their circumstances; at least they know that death shall put an end to all their troubles: but the dead have no sort of knowledge of what passes in this world; their expectations... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:6

6. love, and . . . hatred, c.—(referring to Ecclesiastes 9:1 see on Ecclesiastes 9:1). Not that these cease in a future world absolutely (Ezekiel 32:27; Revelation 22:11); but as the end of this verse shows, relatively to persons and things in this world. Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at death he remains for ever. "Envy," too, marks the wicked as referred to, since it was therewith that they... 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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

Live Worthily While You May1-3. The future is in God’s hands. Good and bad alike must die.1. Considered in] RV ’laid to.’ Declare] RV ’explore.’ No man.. before them] RV ’whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.’ Whether God’s dealings with them shall be such as to suggest His favour or displeasure is unknown, because the part of life not yet traversed cannot be penetrated. 2. There seems no discrimination in the lot of men.4. A living dog] Life has at any rate one... read more

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