Ecclesiastes 9:3-6

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

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 9:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope ,.... That is, who is among the living, is one of them, and, as long as he is, there is hope, if his circumstances are mean, and he is poor and afflicted, that it may be better with him in time; see Job 14:7 ; or of his being a good man, though now wicked; of his being called and converted, as some are at the eleventh hour, even on a death bed; and especially there is a hope of men, if they are under the means of grace, seeing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die ,.... Death is certain, it is the demerit of sin, the appointment of God and the time of it is fixed; it may be known that it will be, from the word of God that assures it, from all experience which confirms it, and from the decline of nature, and the seeds of death in men. This "the living" know that live corporeally, even the wicked themselves, though they put the evil day far from them; and so good men, that live spiritually, being quickened by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:6

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished ,.... Not that the separate spirits of the dead are without their affections, or these unexercised; the spirits of just men made perfect will love God and Christ, and angels, and good men, and all that is good, more intensely; love will continue after this life, and be in its height, and therefore said to be the greatest grace, 1 Corinthians 13:13 ; they will hate sin, Satan, and all the enemies of Christ, and be filled... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope - While a man lives he hopes to amend, and he hopes to have a better lot; and thus life is spent, hoping to grow better, and hoping to get more. The Vulgate has, "There is none that shall live always, nor has any hope of such a thing." Perhaps the best translation is the following: "What, therefore, is to be chosen? In him that is living there is hope." Then choose that eternal life which thou hopest to possess. A living dog is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:5

The living know that they shall die - This is so self-evident that none can doubt it; and therefore all that have this conviction should prepare for death and eternal blessedness. But the dead know not any thing - Cut off from life, they know nothing of what passes under the sun. Their day of probation is ended, and therefore they can have no farther reward in living a holy life; nor can they be liable to any farther punishment for crimes in a state of probation, that being ended. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:6

Also their love, and their hatred - It is evident that he speaks here of the ignorance, want of power, etc., of the dead, in reference only to this life. And though they have no more a portion under the sun, yet he does not intimate that they have none anywhere else. A man threatens to conquer kingdoms, etc. He dies; what are his threats? read more

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