New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:5
5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.
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
3It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. 4There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. 6Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. 7So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this!
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:5 word by word
כִּ֧י הַֽחַיִּ֛ים יוֹדְעִ֖ים שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים אֵינָ֧ם יוֹדְעִ֣ים מְא֗וּמָה וְאֵֽין־ע֤וֹד לָהֶם֙ שָׂכָ֔ר כִּ֥י נִשְׁכַּ֖ח זִכְרָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
- knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that they shall dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- not any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
- neither have they any more a rewardשָׂכָרώâkâr · wagesH7939
- for the memoryזֵ֫כֶרzêker zeker · memorialH2143
- of them is forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:5
- Ecclesiastes 7:2Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart.
- Job 30:23And I know you are sending me to my death— the destination of all who live.
- Hebrews 9:27And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
- Job 14:21They never know if their children grow up in honor or sink to insignificance.
- Psalms 6:5For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave?
- Psalms 88:10Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude
- Isaiah 63:16Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.
- Ecclesiastes 2:16For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.
- Ecclesiastes 8:10I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless.
- Job 7:8You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone.
- Psalms 109:15May the Lord always remember these sins, and may his name disappear from human memory.
- Isaiah 26:14Those we served before are dead and gone. Their departed spirits will never return! You attacked them and destroyed them, and they are long forgotten.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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