Ecclesiastes 9 · Verse 4

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Ecclesiastes 9:4, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 9:4 in other translations

BSBThere is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
WEBFor to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
ASVFor to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
YLTBut to him who is joined unto all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it is better than to the dead lion.
DARBYFor to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
BBEFor him who is joined to all the living there is hope; a living dog is better than a dead lion.
WebsterFor to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

What does Ecclesiastes 9:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. For--rather, "Nevertheless." English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, "that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be chosen?" hope--not of mere temporal good (Job 14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved. dog--metaphor for the vilest persons (1Sa 24:14). lion--the noblest of animals (Pr 30:30). better--as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope - While a man lives he hopes to amend, and he hopes to have a better lot; and thus life is spent, hoping to grow better, and hoping to get more. The Vulgate has, "There is none that shall live always, nor has any hope of such a thing." Perhaps the best translation is the following: "What, therefore, is to be chosen? In him that is living there is hope." Then choose that eternal life which thou hopest to possess. A living dog is better than a dead lion - I suppose this was a proverb. The smallest measure of animal existence is better than the largest of dead matter. The poorest living peasant is infinitely above Alexander the Great.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:4-10
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 the gladness of heart that springs from a sense of the Divine favour. This is the world of service, that to come is the world of recompence. All in their stations, may find some work to do. And above all, sinners have the salvation of their souls to seek after, believers have to prove their faith, adorn the gospel, glorify God, and serve their generation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 9:4 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.

כִּי\־ki-forH3588
מִי֙miwho?H4310
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[is [the] one] whoH834
יְחֻבַּ֔רyi.ba.cherhe is unitedH2266
אֶ֥ל'eltoH413
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הַחַיִּ֖יםha.chai.Yimthe livingH2416
יֵ֣שׁyeshthereH3426
בִּטָּח֑וֹןbi.ta.Chon[is] hopeH986
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
לְכֶ֤לֶבle.Khe.levto a dogH3611
חַי֙chailivingH2416
ה֣וּאhu'itH1931
ט֔וֹבTov[is] goodH2896
מִן\־min-more thanH4480
הָאַרְיֵ֖הha.'ar.Yehthe lionH738
הַמֵּֽת\׃ha.Met<the> deadH4191

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 9:4

  • Job 14:7-12

    For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? …

  • Isaiah 38:18

    For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

  • Luke 16:26-29

    And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

  • Lamentations 3:21-22

    This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

  • Job 27:8

    For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 14:7-12; 27:8; Isa 38:18; La 3:21,22; Lu 16:26-29

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

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:3

    This 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:4

    For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:5

    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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 9:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Aun hay esperanza para todo aquél que está entre los vivos; porque mejor es perro vivo que león muerto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car pour celui qui est lié à tous les vivants il y a de l’espoir, car un chien vivant vaut mieux qu’un lion mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn für einen jeden, der all den Lebenden zugesellt wird, gibt es Hoffnung; denn selbst ein lebendiger Hund ist besser daran als ein toter Löwe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nemo est qui semper vivat, et qui hujus rei habeat fiduciam; melior est canis vivus leone mortuo.