Darby Bible
Ecclesiastes 9:3
3This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, [they have to go] to the dead.
Ecclesiastes 9:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)This is an evil among all things that are 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 they go to the dead.
- New International Version (NIV)This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
- English Standard Version (ESV)This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Context of Ecclesiastes 9:3
1For all this I laid to my heart and [indeed] to investigate all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; man knoweth neither love nor hatred: all is before them. 2All things [come] alike to all: one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean, to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, [they have to go] to the dead. 4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:3 word by word
זֶ֣ה׀ רָ֗ע בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂה֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־מִקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל וְגַ֣ם לֵ֣ב בְּֽנֵי־הָ֠אָדָם מָלֵא־רָ֨ע וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת בִּלְבָבָם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וְאַחֲרָ֖יו אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃Read the interlinear
- evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- alsoגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- fullמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
- evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- madnessהוֹלֵלָהhôlêlâh · madnessH1947
- heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:3
- Ecclesiastes 8:11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil.
- Genesis 6:5And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of Man was great on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil continually.
- Genesis 8:21And Jehovah smelled the sweet odour. And Jehovah said in his heart, I will no more henceforth curse the ground on account of Man, for the thought of Man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will no more smite every living thing, as I have done.
- Job 15:16How much less the abominable and corrupt, — man, that drinketh unrighteousness like water!
- Psalms 51:5Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurable; who can know it?
- Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnessings, blasphemies;
- Mark 7:21For from within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
- Romans 1:29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers,
- Ecclesiastes 1:17And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom, and to the knowledge of madness and folly: I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 7:25I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
- Luke 6:11But they were filled with madness, and they spoke together among themselves what they should do to Jesus.
- Luke 15:17And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have abundance of bread, and I perish here by famine.
- Acts 26:11And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And, being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land].
- 2 Peter 2:16but had reproof of his own wickedness — [the] dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the folly of the prophet.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The 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 the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Compare Ecclesiastes 8:11. The seeming indiscriminateness of the course of events tends to encourage evil-disposed men in their folly.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3When authorities delay punishments, including death, people may continue their reckless behavior and increase their wrongdoing and foolishness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Translate, "There is an evil above all (evils) that are done," &c., namely, that not only "there is one event to all," but "also the heart of the sons of men" makes this fact a reason for "madly" persisting in "evil while they live, and after that," &c., sin is "madness." the dead--(Pr 2:18; 9:18).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:3
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries