Ecclesiastes 9:4

Ecclesiastes 9:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
• New International Version (NIV)Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
• English Standard Version (ESV)But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:4

2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers sacrifices and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as he who swears an oath is, so is he who is afraid to swear an oath. 3This evil is in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes to all. Also, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they go to the dead. [There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they no longer have a reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten. 6Indeed their love, their hatred and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share [in this age] in anything that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:4 word by word

כִּי־מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְחֻבַּ֔ר אֶ֥ל כָּל־הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forמִיmîy · who?H4310
• to him that isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• joinedבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• joinedחָבַרchâbar · to uniteH2266
• to all the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
• there is hopeבִּטָּחוֹןbiţţâchôn · trustH986
• dogכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• is betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than a deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:4

• Job 14:7“For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the shoots of it will not cease nor fail, [but there is no such hope for man].
• Job 27:8For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?
• Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot praise or thank You, Death cannot praise You and rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
• Lamentations 3:21But this I call to mind, Therefore I have hope.
• Luke 16:26And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For to him - Rather: “Yet to him.” Notwithstanding evils, life has its advantage, and especially when compared with death. Dog - To the Hebrews a type of all that was contemptible 1 Samuel 17:43.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-10Verses 4-10 The most despicable living man's state, is preferable to that of the most noble who have died impenitent. Solomon exhorts the wise and pious to cheerful confidence in God, whatever their condition in life. The meanest morsel, coming from their Father's love, in answer to prayer, will have a peculiar relish. Not that we may set our hearts upon the delights of sense, but what God has given us we may use with wisdom. The joy here described, is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Hope for enjoyment exists only if the person hoping is alive. So, it is better to be alive (compare Ecclesiastes 6:3; 7:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. For--rather, "Nevertheless." English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, "that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be chosen?" hope--not of mere temporal good (Job 14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved. dog--metaphor for the vilest persons (1Sa 24:14). lion--the noblest of animals (Pr 30:30). better--as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:4

• Death
• Hades
• Lion

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Dead
• Psalms, Book of
• Synagogue, the Great
• Wisdom

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings