Ecclesiastes 9:5

Ecclesiastes 9:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
• New International Version (NIV)For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For 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.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:5

3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. 4For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. 6Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. 7Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 word by word

כִּ֧י הַֽחַיִּ֛ים יוֹדְעִ֖ים שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים אֵינָ֧ם יוֹדְעִ֣ים מְא֗וּמָה וְאֵֽין־ע֤וֹד לָהֶם֙ שָׂכָ֔ר כִּ֥י נִשְׁכַּ֖ח זִכְרָֽם׃Read the interlinear

• For the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• they will dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• anythingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• norאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• they anyעוֹד‛ôd ‛ôd · stillH5750
• a rewardשָׂכָרώâkâr · wagesH7939
• memoryזֵ֫כֶרzêker zeker · memorialH2143
• is forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:5

• Ecclesiastes 7:2It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart.
• Job 30:23For I know that You will bring me to death And to the house of meeting for all living.
• Hebrews 9:27And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
• Job 14:21His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.
• Psalms 6:5For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?
• Psalms 88:10Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah.
• Isaiah 63:16For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us And Israel does not recognize us. You, O Lord, are our Father, Our Redeemer from of old is Your name.
• Ecclesiastes 2:16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!
• Ecclesiastes 8:10So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility.
• Job 7:8The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
• Psalms 109:15Let them be before the Lord continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
• Isaiah 26:14The dead will not live, the departed spirits will not rise; Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And You have wiped out all remembrance of them.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The living know that they shall die - This is so self-evident that none can doubt it; and therefore all that have this conviction should prepare for death and eternal blessedness. But the dead know not any thing - Cut off from life, they know nothing of what passes under the sun. Their day of probation is ended, and therefore they can have no farther reward in living a holy life; nor can they be liable to any farther punishment for crimes in a state of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5See Ecclesiastes 8:12, note; Ecclesiastes 8:14, note. The living are conscious that there is a future before them: but the dead are unconscious; they earn nothing, receive nothing, even the memory of them soon disappears; they are no longer excited by the passions which belong to people in this life; their share in its activity has ceased. Solomon here describes what he sees, not what he believes; there is no reference here to the fact or the mode of the…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. 55. know that they shall die--and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (Ec 7:1-4; Psa 90:12). dead know not anything--that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (Job 14:21; Is 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth. neither ... reward--no advantage from their worldly labors (Ec 2:18-22; 4:9). memory--not of the righteous (Psa…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:5

• Dead (People)
• Death
• Hades

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Death
• Decease, in the Old Testament and Apocyphra
• Eschatology of the Old Testament
• Memorial; Memory
• Psalms, Book of
• Synagogue, the Great

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