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Matthew Henry

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 9:9

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest ,.... Or "see", or "enjoy life" F4 ראה חיים "vide vitam", Pagninus, Vatablus, Drusius, Mercerus, Cocceius; "vel vitas", Montanus; "perfruere vita", V. L. "fracre vita", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Rambachius; so Broughton. : this is one of the ways of enjoying life comfortably, and one of the principal ones; that if a man has a wife whom he ought to love as himself as his own flesh, to take delight in her company, be... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest - Marry prudently, keep faithfully attached to the wife thou hast chosen, and rejoice in the labor of thy hands. Some understand this as the words of the libertine objector: "Live joyfully with the woman whom thou lovest best." But this does not comport so well with the scope of the place. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:9

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest ; literally, see life with a wife whom thou lovest . The article is omitted, as the maxim is to be taken generally. In correction of the outspoken condemnation of women in Ecclesiastes 7:26 , Koheleth here recognizes the happiness of a home where is found a helpmate beloved and worthy of love (comp. Proverbs 5:18 , Proverbs 5:19 ; Proverbs 17:22 , on which our passage seems to be founded; and Ecclesiasticus 26:13-18). (For the... 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

Thomas Coke

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

Ecclesiastes 9:9. For that is thy portion— For she is thy portion, &c. From the 7th to this verse we have the first inference. We must not reject the use of what God has given us for our portion in this world. The usefulness of earthly things would not cease with this short life, if it had not been our bounteous Maker's will that we should use them while they are within our reach. Their being given in common to the good and to the wicked, must not make us imagine that we should become less... read more

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