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!
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:4

2It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3This 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. But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all 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 be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
• Job 27:8For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?
• Isaiah 38:18For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.
• Lamentations 3:21But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
• Luke 16:26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross 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