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 among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 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. 6Also 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. 7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy 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
• 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 7:2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
• Job 30:23For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
• Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
• Job 14:21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
• Psalms 6:5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
• Psalms 88:10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
• Isaiah 63:16Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Yhwh, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
• Ecclesiastes 2:16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
• Ecclesiastes 8:10And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
• Job 7:8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
• Psalms 109:15Let them be before Yhwh continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
• Isaiah 26:14They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

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