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

1So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated – no one knows what lies ahead. Everyone shares the same fate – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows. 3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives – then they die. 4But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• eventמִקְרֶהmiqreh · accidentH4745
• to the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• and to the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• to the goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• and to the cleanטָהוֹרţâhôr ţâhôr · pureH2889
• and to the uncleanטָמֵאţâmê' · uncleanH2931
• to him that sacrificethזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• and to him thatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• the sinnerחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• he that swearethשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• that fearethיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• an oathשְׁבוּעָהshebû‛âh · oathH7621

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:2

• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
• Job 21:7“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?
• Psalms 73:3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
• Malachi 3:15So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!’”
• Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!
• Ecclesiastes 7:18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.
• Genesis 24:3so that I may make you solemnly promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.
• Joshua 2:17The men said to her, “We are not bound by this oath you made us swear unless the following conditions are met:
• 1 Samuel 14:26When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.
• Ezekiel 17:18He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Take note – he gave his promise and did all these things – he will not escape!
• Zechariah 5:3The speaker went on to say, “This is a curse traveling across the whole earth. For example, according to the curse whoever steals will be removed from the community; or on the other hand (according to the curse) whoever swears falsely will suffer the same fate.”

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