
Text -- Ecclesiastes 9:9 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Ecc 9:9
Of this vain and frail life.
JFB -> Ecc 9:9
JFB: Ecc 9:9 - -- Godly and true love, opposed to the "snares" of the "thousand" concubines (Ecc 7:26, Ecc 7:28), "among" whom Solomon could not find the true love whic...
Clarke -> Ecc 9:9
Clarke: Ecc 9:9 - -- Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest - Marry prudently, keep faithfully attached to the wife thou hast chosen, and rejoice in the labor of t...
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest - Marry prudently, keep faithfully attached to the wife thou hast chosen, and rejoice in the labor of thy hands
Some understand this as the words of the libertine objector: "Live joyfully with the woman whom thou lovest best."But this does not comport so well with the scope of the place.
TSK -> Ecc 9:9
TSK: Ecc 9:9 - -- Live joyfully : Heb. See, or Enjoy life
with the wife : Pro 5:18, Pro 5:19, Pro 18:22, Pro 19:14; Mal 2:15
all the days of the life : Ecc 6:12; Psa 39...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Ecc 9:7-12
Barnes: Ecc 9:7-12 - -- Read these six verses connectedly, in order to arrive at the meaning of the writer; and compare Ecc 2:1-12. After the description Ecc 9:5-6 of the p...
Read these six verses connectedly, in order to arrive at the meaning of the writer; and compare Ecc 2:1-12.
After the description Ecc 9:5-6 of the portionless condition of the dead, the next thought which occurs is that the man who is prosperous and active should simply enjoy his portion all through this life Ecc 9:7-10; and then Ecc 9:11-12 follows the correcting thought (see Ecc 3:1-15 note), introduced as usual Ecc 2:12; Ecc 4:1, Ecc 4:7 by "I returned,"namely, that the course of events is disposed and regulated by another will than that of man.
The person addressed is one whose life of labor is already pleasing to God, and who bears visible tokens of God’ s favor.
Now accepteth - Rather: "already has pleasure in."Joy (the marginal reference note) is regarded as a sign of the approbation and favor of God.
White garments and perfume are simply an expressive sign of joy.
The works which we carry on here with the combined energies of body and soul come to an end in the hour of death, when the soul enters a new sphere of existence, and body and soul cease to act together. Compare Joh 9:4.
Device - See Ecc 7:25 note.
Chance - Or, "incident,"that which comes to us from without, one of the external events described in Eccl. 3. Compare Ecc 2:14 note.
Time - See Ecc 3:1 ff.
Poole -> Ecc 9:9
Poole: Ecc 9:9 - -- Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest so he limits him to lawful delights; whereby it is evident that Solomon doth not speak this in the perso...
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest so he limits him to lawful delights; whereby it is evident that Solomon doth not speak this in the person of an epicure, as some understand it.
Of the life of thy vanity of this vain and frail life; which expression he industriously useth to moderate men’ s affections even towards lawful pleasures, and to mind them of their duty and interest in making sure of a better life, and more solid comforts.
Thy portion allowed to thee by God, and the best part of worldly enjoyments, in this life; by which addition he is again admonishing him of seeking another portion in the future life.
Haydock -> Ecc 9:9
Wife. Some translate, "the woman," or harlot; as if the wicked still spoke.
Gill -> Ecc 9:9
Gill: Ecc 9:9 - -- Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest,.... Or "see", or "enjoy life" d: this is one of the ways of enjoying life comfortably, and one of the pr...
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest,.... Or "see", or "enjoy life" d: this is one of the ways of enjoying life comfortably, and one of the principal ones; that if a man has a wife whom he ought to love as himself as his own flesh, to take delight in her company, be pleasant with her, and rejoice in her, Pro 5:18; and this here may be put for all that pleasure and satisfaction which may be lawfully had in the enjoyment of all other relations and friends; which adds no small part to the comfort of a man's life;
all the days of the life of thy vanity; a wife is for life, and not after a while to be divorced; and to be lived joyfully with, not for a short time only, but all the days of life;
which he hath given thee under the sun; that is, either which wife God has given thee; for a wife is the gift of God, Gen 3:12; and which is a gift under the sun; for above it, or in heaven, and in a future state, there is no marrying nor giving in marriage, Luk 20:35; or which days he hath given thee, so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions. It is added,
all the days of thy vanity; which is repeated, that it might be observed that the life of man is but a vain life, a vapour that soon vanishes away, and man in it, at his best estate, is vanity; and that notwithstanding all the enjoyments of life in the most comfortable manner here directed to, yet still the doctrine he set out with must be remembered, that all is vanity, Ecc 1:2;
for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun; this is all the outward happiness of a man in this life, and all the use, profit, and advantage of his labours, to eat and drink cheerfully, to clothe decently, to debar himself of nothing of lawful pleasure, particularly to live joyfully with his wife, and enjoy his friends; this is the utmost of outward felicity he can partake of, and this he should not deny himself. Ben Melech restrains this portion to a wife, and joyful living with her; but it is best to include all that goes before.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Ecc 9:1-18
TSK Synopsis: Ecc 9:1-18 - --1 Like things happen to good and bad.4 There is a necessity of death unto men.7 Comfort is all their portion in this life.11 God's providence rules ov...
MHCC -> Ecc 9:4-10
MHCC: Ecc 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 cheerf...
Matthew Henry -> Ecc 9:4-10
Matthew Henry: Ecc 9:4-10 - -- Solomon, in a fret, had praised the dead more than the living (Ecc 4:2); but here, considering the advantages of life to prepare for death and mak...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Ecc 9:7-10
Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 9:7-10 - --
"Go, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for long ago hath God accepted thy work. Let thy garments be always white; and l...
Constable: Ecc 6:10--11:7 - --III. THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM 6:10--11:6
Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of 6:10-11:6. The phr...

Constable: Ecc 9:1--11:7 - --C. Man's Ignorance of the Future 9:1-11:6
The emphasis in this section (9:1-11:6) is on what man does no...
