Darby Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:1
1A [good] name is better than precious ointment, 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
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, 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: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart. 3Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
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 15:30That which enlighteneth the eyes rejoiceth the heart; good tidings make the bones fat.
- Proverbs 22:1A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.
- Isaiah 56:5even unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
- Luke 10:20Yet in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the heavens.
- Hebrews 11:2For in [the power of] this the elders have obtained testimony.
- Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
- Psalms 133:2Like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, upon Aaron's beard, that ran down to the hem of his garments;
- Proverbs 27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.
- John 13:2And during supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas [son] of Simon, Iscariote, that he should deliver him up,
- Ecclesiastes 4:2Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
- Job 3:17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the wearied 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 before the evil.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly tabernacle house be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- Philippians 1:21For for me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain;
- Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice out of the heaven saying, Write, Blessed the dead who die in [the] Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; 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
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