New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:6
6Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
- New International Version (NIV)Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Their 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
Context of Ecclesiastes 9:6
4There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” 5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever 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! 8Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!
Read all of Ecclesiastes 9Ecclesiastes 9:6 word by word
גַּ֣ם אַהֲבָתָ֧ם גַּם־שִׂנְאָתָ֛ם גַּם־קִנְאָתָ֖ם כְּבָ֣ר אָבָ֑דָה וְחֵ֨לֶק אֵין־לָהֶ֥ם עוֹד֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Also their loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
- and their hatredשִׂנְאָהώin'âh · hatingH8135
- and their envyקִנְאָהqin'âh · jealousyH7068
- is nowכְּבָרkebâr · alreadyH3528
- perishedאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
- neither have they any more a portionחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506
- for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- that is doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- under the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 9:6
- Exodus 1:8Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.
- Job 3:17For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest.
- Psalms 146:3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
- Proverbs 10:28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
- Matthew 2:20“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”
- Ecclesiastes 2:18I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.
- Ecclesiastes 6:12In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 9:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Also their love, and their hatred - It is evident that he speaks here of the ignorance, want of power, etc., of the dead, in reference only to this life. And though they have no more a portion under the sun, yet he does not intimate that they have none anywhere else. A man threatens to conquer kingdoms, etc. He dies; what are his threats?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. 66. love, and ... hatred, &c.--(referring to Ec 9:1; see on Ec 9:1). Not that these cease in a future world absolutely (Eze 32:27; Re 22:11); but as the end of this verse shows, relatively to persons and things in this world. Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at death he remains for ever. "Envy," too, marks the wicked as referred to, since it was therewith…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 9:6
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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