Ecclesiastes 9:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:4-10

Solomon, in a fret, had praised the dead more than the living (Eccl. 4:2); but here, considering the advantages of life to prepare for death and make sure the hope of a better life, he seems to be of another mind. I. He shows the advantages which the living have above those that are dead, Eccl. 9:4-6. 1. While there is life there is hope. Dum spiro, spero?While I breathe, I hope. It is the privilege of the living that they are joined to the living, in relation, commerce, and conversation, and,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go thy way ,.... Thou righteous man, as Jarchi paraphrases it; and indeed epicures and voluptuous persons have no need of the following exhortation, and the reason annexed is not suitable to them; but the whole agrees better with religious persons, who under distressing views of Providence, and from gloomy and melancholy apprehensions of things, and mistaken notions of mortification, deny themselves the free and lawful use of the good things of life; and seeing there is no enjoyment of them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy - Do not vex and perplex yourselves with the dispensations and mysteries of Providence; enjoy the blessings which God has given you, and live to his glory; and then God will accept your works. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy . This is not an injunction to lead a selfish life of Epicurean pleasure; but taking the limited view to which he here confines himself, the Preacher inculcates the practical wisdom of looking at the bright side of things; he says in effect (though he takes care afterwards to correct a wrong impression which might be given)," Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die" ( 1 Corinthians 15:32 ). We have had the same counsel in Ecclesiastes 2:24 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

These verses give the application of the facts just mentioned. The inscrutability of the moral government of the world, the uncertainty of life, the condition of the dead, lead to the conclusion again that one should use one's life to the best advantage; and Koheleth repeats his caution concerning the issues and duration of life. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:7-12

Read these six verses connectedly, in order to arrive at the meaning of the writer; and compare Ecclesiastes 2:1-12.After the description Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 of the portionless condition of the dead, the next thought which occurs is that the man who is prosperous and active should simply enjoy his portion all through this life Ecclesiastes 9:7-10; and then Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 follows the correcting thought (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 note), introduced as usual Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 4:1,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:7-9

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9. Go thy way Make this use of what I have said. Eat thy bread Thy necessary and convenient food; with joy, &c. Cheerfully enjoy thy comforts, avoiding all distracting care and grief for the occurrences of this world. For God now accepteth thy works Whosoever thou art, that art truly pious and upright before him, he is gracious unto thee, accepts thy services for his honour, and allows thee a comfortable enjoyment of his blessings. Let thy garments be always... 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 9:7

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:7

EAT, DRINK, ETC, FOR TOMORROW YOU DIE"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he (God) hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity; for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, that do... read more

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