American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:1
1Agoodname is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
- New International Version (NIV)A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:1
Agoodname is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth. 2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:1 word by word
ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:1
- Proverbs 15:30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; Andgood tidings make the bones fat.
- Proverbs 22:1Agoodname is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
- Isaiah 56:5Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
- Hebrews 11:2For therein the elders had witness borne to them.
- Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
- Psalms 133:2It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments;
- Proverbs 27:9Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.
- John 13:2And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
- Ecclesiastes 4:2Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
- Job 3:17There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.
- Isaiah 57:1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
- Philippians 1:21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A good name - Unsatisfactory as all sublunary things are, yet still there are some which are of great consequence, and among them a good name. The place is well paraphrased in the following verses: "A spotless name, By virtuous deeds acquired, is sweeter far Than fragant balms, whose odors round diffused Regale the invited guests. Well may such men Rejoice at death's approach, and bless the hours That end their toilsome pilgrimage; assured That till the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Name ointment - The likeness between reputation and odor supplies a common metaphor: the contrast is between reputation, as an honorable attainment which only wise people win, and fragrant odor, as a gratification of the senses which all people enjoy. The connection of this verse with the preceding verses is this: the man, who wants to know what is profitable for man and good in this life, is here told to act in such a way as ordinarily secures a good…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow above vain mirth. (Eccl. 7:1-6) Concerning oppression, anger, and discontent. (Eccl. 7:7-10) Advantages of wisdom. (Eccl. 7:11-22) Experience of the evil of sin. (Eccl. 7:23-29) Verses 1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to go to a funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1It is better to seek a good reputation for wisdom and righteousness than to pursue luxuries like expensive perfume (Proverbs 22:1; 28:6). one’s day of death is better than his day of birth: There is relief when life's troubles end. Life's difficulties can make one look forward to the peace of death (Ecclesiastes 1:18; 2:22; 4:2–3; 12:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29Ec 7:1-29. 1. (See on Ec 6:12). name--character; a godly mind and life; not mere reputation with man, but what a man is in the eyes of God, with whom the name and reality are one thing (Is 9:6). This alone is "good," while all else is "vanity" when made the chief end. ointment--used lavishly at costly banquets and peculiarly refreshing in the sultry East. The Hebrew for "name" and for "ointment," have a happy paronomasia, Sheem and Shemen. "Ointment" is…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- 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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries