Ecclesiastes 7 · Verse 1

Ecclesiastes 7:1

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

Ecclesiastes 7:1, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:1 in other translations

BSB	A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
WEB	A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
ASV	A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
YLT	Better is a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.
DARBY	A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
BBE	A good name is better than oil of great price, and the day of death than the day of birth.
Webster	A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

What does Ecclesiastes 7:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ec 7:1-29. 1. (See on Ec 6:12). name--character; a godly mind and life; not mere reputation with man, but what a man is in the eyes of God, with whom the name and reality are one thing (Is 9:6). This alone is "good," while all else is "vanity" when made the chief end. ointment--used lavishly at costly banquets and peculiarly refreshing in the sultry East. The Hebrew for "name" and for "ointment," have a happy paronomasia, Sheem and Shemen. "Ointment" is fragrant only in the place where the person is whose head and garment are scented, and only for a time. The "name" given by God to His child (Re 3:12) is for ever and in all lands. So in the case of the woman who received an everlasting name from Jesus Christ, in reward for her precious ointment (Is 56:5; Mr 14:3-9). Jesus Christ Himself hath such a name, as the Messiah, equivalent to Anointed (So 1:3). and the day of [his] death, &c.--not a general censure upon God for creating man; but, connected with the previous clause, death is to him, who hath a godly name, "better" than the day of his birth; "far better," as Php 1:23 has it.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The value of a good name, Ecc 7:1. Advantages of sorrow and correction, Ecc 7:2-5. The emptiness of a fool's joy, Ecc 7:6. Of oppression, Ecc 7:7. The end better than the beginning, Ecc 7:8. Against hastiness of spirit, Ecc 7:9. Comparison of former and present times, Ecc 7:10. Excellence of wisdom, Ecc 7:11, Ecc 7:12. Of the dispensations of Providence, Ecc 7:13-15. Against extremes, Ecc 7:16-18. The strength of wisdom, Ecc 7:19. Man is ever liable to sin and mistake, Ecc 7:20. We should guard our words, Ecc 7:21, Ecc 7:22. Difficulty of obtaining wisdom, Ecc 7:23-25, A bad woman dangerous, Ecc 7:26. There are few who are really upright, Ecc 7:27-29. Verse 1 A good name - Unsatisfactory as all sublunary things are, yet still there are some which are of great consequence, and among them a good name. The place is well paraphrased in the following verses: "A spotless name, By virtuous deeds acquired, is sweeter far Than fragant balms, whose odors round diffused Regale the invited guests. Well may such men Rejoice at death's approach, and bless the hours That end their toilsome pilgrimage; assured That till the race of life is finish'd none Can be completely blest."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow above vain mirth. (Eccl. 7:1-6) Concerning oppression, anger, and discontent. (Eccl. 7:7-10) Advantages of wisdom. (Eccl. 7:11-22) Experience of the evil of sin. (Eccl. 7:23-29) Verses 1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to go to a funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend in Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany. But, considering how apt we are to be vain and indulge the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn the end of man as to this world. Seriousness is better than mirth and jollity. That is best for us which is best for our souls, though it be unpleasing to sense. It is better to have our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise, than to have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool is soon gone, the end of his mirth is heaviness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 7:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ט֥וֹבTov[is] goodH2896

שֵׁ֖םshema nameH8034

מִשֶּׁ֣מֶןmi.She.menmore than ointmentH8081

ט֑וֹבTovgoodH2896

וְי֣וֹםve.Yomand [the] day ofH3117

הַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vet<the> deathH4194

מִיּ֖וֹםmi.Yommore than [the] day ofH3117

הִוָּלְדֽוֹ\׃hi.val.Dobeing born heH3205

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 7:1

Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Ecclesiastes 4:2
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21-23
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Song of Solomon 1:3
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
Isaiah 56:5
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Remedies against vanity are, a good name;
2 mortification;
7 patience;
11 wisdom.
23 The difficulty of wisdom.

name.
Pr 15:30; 22:1; Isa 56:5; Lu 10:20; Heb 11:2,39
precious.
10:1; Ps 133:2; Pr 27:9; So 1:3; 4:10; Joh 13:2
the day.
4:2; Job 3:17; Isa 57:1,2; 2Co 5:1,8; Php 1:21-23; Re 14:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
Ecclesiastes 7:2
It 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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	MEJOR es la buena fama que el buen ungüento; y el día de la muerte que el día del nacimiento.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mieux vaut une bonne renommée que le bon parfum, et le jour de la mort que le jour de la naissance.
German Elberfelder 1871	Besser ein guter Name als gutes Salböl, und der Tag des Todes als der Tag, da einer geboren wird.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quid necesse est homini majora se quærere, cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua, numero dierum peregrinationis suæ, et tempore quod velut umbra præterit? aut quis ei poterit indicare quod post eum futurum sub sole sit?