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 all this I laid on my heart and to ascertain all this: that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works are in the hand of God. Whether love or hatred, no one knows—everything awaits them. Everyone shares the same destiny: for the righteous and the wicked; for the good, the ritually clean and the defiled; for one who sacrifices and one who does not sacrifice; as the good person so the sinner; as the one who swears like the one who fears an oath. 3This is a misery in everything done under the sun: that the same destiny awaits everyone. Moreover, the hearts of all humans are full of evil, and folly is in their hearts during their lives—after that they die. 4Everyone who is among the living has hope—even a living dog is better off 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 2:14A wise man has his eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness. Yet, I also came to realize that the same destiny befalls them both.
• Job 21:7Why do the wicked go on living, growing old and increasing in power?
• Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
• Malachi 3:15So now we are calling the proud blessed. Those who practice iniquity are built up. Indeed, they have tested God, and escaped!”
• Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the one who pleases Him, He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating wealth to give it to one who pleases God. This also is only vapor and striving after the wind.
• Ecclesiastes 7:18It is good to grasp the one and not withdraw your hand from the other. For the one who fears God will escape both extremes.
• Ecclesiastes 8:12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and prolong his days, yet I know that it will be well for those who fear God, for those who revere Him.
• Genesis 24:3so that I may make you take an oath by Adonai, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling.
• Joshua 2:17Then the men said to her: “We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear,
• 1 Samuel 14:26When the people entered the forest, indeed, there was a flow of honey, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
• Ezekiel 17:18“Since he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he had given his hand yet did all these things, he will not escape.
• Zechariah 5:3He said to me: “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land: everyone who steals will be swept away from here according to it, and everyone who swears will be swept away from here according to it.”

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