EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 7:1
1If people respect you as a good person, that is better than expensive perfume. The day of your death is better than the day of your 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
If people respect you as a good person, that is better than expensive perfume. The day of your death is better than the day of your birth. 2If you go to a house where there is a funeral, that is better for you than to go to a party. Everyone will die one day. People should think about death while they are still alive. 3If you are sad, that is better for you than to laugh all the time. We learn more about ourselves when we are sad.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:1 word by word
ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:1
- Proverbs 15:30If someone smiles at you, it makes you happy. Good news makes you feel strong.
- Proverbs 22:1It is better to receive honour from people than to be very rich. If people respect you, that is better than silver or gold.
- Isaiah 56:5If they do that, I will give them a special place in my temple. It will cause people to remember them. Their name will continue in a better way than through sons and daughters. People will always honour their name. Nobody will cut it off.
- Luke 10:20But do not be happy because you have authority over bad spirits. God has written your names in his book in heaven. That is why you should be happy.’
- Hebrews 11:2It was because of their faith that God said good things about the people of long ago.
- Ecclesiastes 10:1A few dead flies in a bottle of perfume cause it to have a bad smell. In the same way, one foolish thing can destroy a lot of wisdom.
- Psalms 133:2It brings pleasure like valuable olive oil that is poured on your head, and it goes down onto your beard. They poured it onto Aaron's head and his beard, and it went down onto his clothes.
- Proverbs 27:9Beautiful oil and perfume may give you joy. But good advice from a friend is even better.
- John 13:2Jesus and his disciples were eating supper. The Devil had already put an idea into the mind of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son. The idea was to sell Jesus to his enemies.
- Ecclesiastes 4:2I thought about people who are already dead. I decided that they are happier than the people who are still alive.
- Job 3:17After death, wicked people can no longer cause any trouble. People who have become tired can rest.
- Isaiah 57:1When somebody who worships God dies, nobody else may think much about it. An honest person may suddenly die. Nobody really understands what is happening. God takes away his servants, so that evil things will not hurt them any more.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1Our bodies are like a tent that we live in here on earth. One day, that home will come to an end. But we know that God will give us a new home. It is not a house that a human builder has built. God has built it for us in heaven and we will live there for ever.
- Philippians 1:21Christ is everything that I live for. If I die, that will be even better for me.
- Revelation 14:13Then I heard a voice that spoke from heaven. It said, ‘Write this: From this time, people who continue to believe in the Lord and then they die will be very happy.’ God's Spirit says, ‘Yes, they will rest from their work. God will not forget the good things that they have done.’
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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