Ecclesiastes 9:2 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 9:2

All things come alike to all ,.... That is, all outward things in this life, good and bad men share in alike; which proves that neither love nor hatred can be known by them: so the emperor Mark Antonine, in speaking of life and death, of honour and dishonour, of pain and pleasure, riches and poverty, says F19 De scipso, l. 2. c. 11. , all these things happen alike to good men and bad men; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked ; the same prosperous ones happen to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:2

All things come alike to all - This is very generally true; but God often makes a difference and his faithful followers witness many interventions of Divine Providence in their behalf. But there are general blessings, and general natural evils, that equally affect the just and the unjust. But in this all is right; the evils that are in nature are the effects of the Fall of man; and God will not suspend general laws, or alter them, to favor individual cases. Nor does he design that his... 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 9:2

All things come alike to all ; literally, all things [are] like that which [happens] to all persons . There is no difference in the treatment of persons; all people of every kind meet with circumstances of every kind. Speaking generally, there is no discrimination, apparently, in the distribution of good and evil. Sun and shade, calm and storm. fruitful and unfruitful seasons, joy and sorrow, are dispensed by inscrutable laws. The Septuagint, reading differently, has, "Vanity is in all;"... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:2

Event - See Ecclesiastes 2:14 note.Sweareth - i. e., Swears lightly or profanely. 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 9:2

All things come alike to all = Just as before all others. Reading on from Ecclesiastes 9:1 . one event: i.e. death. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:14 . the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . sinner. Hebrew. chata. App-44 . All the nouns in this verse are singular. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:2

THE SAME FATE COMES TO ALL"All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and the wicked; to the good and to the clean and the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that... read more