Ecclesiastes 9:2

Ecclesiastes 9:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)All things come alike to all: there is 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; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
• New International Version (NIV)All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.

Context of Ecclesiastes 9:2

1For I have taken all this to my heart, even to examine it all, that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits them. It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and the unclean; for the person who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good person is, so is the sinner; the one who swears an oath is just as the one who is afraid to swear an oath. 3This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterward they go to the dead. 4For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion.

Ecclesiastes 9:2 word by word

הַכֹּ֞ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר לַכֹּ֗ל מִקְרֶ֨ה אֶחָ֜ד לַצַּדִּ֤יק וְלָרָשָׁע֙ לַטּוֹב֙ וְלָרַע וְלַטָּה֣וֹר וְלַטָּמֵ֔א וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ זֹבֵ֑חַ כַּטּוֹב֙ כַּֽחֹטֶ֔א הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר שְׁבוּעָ֥ה יָרֵֽא׃Read the interlinear

• for allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• fateמִקְרֶהmiqreh · accidentH4745
• for the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• and for the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• for the goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• for the cleanטָהוֹרţâhôr ţâhôr · pureH2889
• and the uncleanטָמֵאţâmê' · uncleanH2931
• for the person who offersזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• and for the one whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• personטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• is, so is the sinnerחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• the one who swearsשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• to swear an oathשְׁבוּעָהshebû‛âh · oathH7621

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:2

• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise person’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one and the same fate happens to both of them.
• Job 21:7Why do the wicked still live, Grow old, and also become very powerful?
• Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Malachi 3:15So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment.’”
• Ecclesiastes 2:26For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is futility and striving after wind.
• Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.
• Genesis 24:3and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live;
• Joshua 2:17And the men said to her, “We shall be exempt from this oath to you which you have made us swear,
• 1 Samuel 14:26When the people entered the forest, behold, there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.
• Ezekiel 17:18Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’”
• Zechariah 5:3Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the entire land; everyone who steals certainly will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely will be purged away according to the writing on the other side.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2All things come alike to all - This is very generally true; but God often makes a difference and his faithful followers witness many interventions of Divine Providence in their behalf. But there are general blessings, and general natural evils, that equally affect the just and the unjust. But in this all is right; the evils that are in nature are the effects of the Fall of man; and God will not suspend general laws, or alter them, to favor individual…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Event - See Ecclesiastes 2:14 note. Sweareth - i. e., Swears lightly or profanely.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Everyone's fate is to eventually die.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-102. All things ... alike--not universally; but as to death. Ec 9:2-10 are made by Holden the objection of a skeptical sensualist. However, they may be explained as Solomon's language. He repeats the sentiment already implied in Ec 2:14; 3:20; 8:14. one event--not eternally; but death is common to all. good--morally. clean--ceremonially. sacrificeth--alike to Josiah who sacrificed to God, and to Ahab who made sacrifice to Him cease. sweareth--rashly and…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Event
• Evil
• Remember
• Reward
• Chance
• Hap; Haply
• Psalms, Book of
• Sacrifice
• 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