Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! New Living Translation There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!” English Standard Version But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Berean Standard Bible There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. King James Bible For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. New King James Version But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. New American Standard Bible For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion. NASB 1995 For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. NASB 1977 For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. Legacy Standard Bible For whoever is joined with all the living, there is confidence; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. Amplified Bible [There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. Christian Standard Bible But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion. Holman Christian Standard Bible But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion. American Standard Version For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Contemporary English Version As long as we are alive, we still have hope, just as a live dog is better off than a dead lion. English Revised Version For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. GOD'S WORD® Translation But all who are among the living have hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion. Good News Translation But anyone who is alive in the world of the living has some hope; a live dog is better off than a dead lion. International Standard Version "While someone is among the living, hope remains," because "it is better to be a living dog than to be a dead lion." Majority Standard Bible There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. NET Bible But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion. New Heart English Bible For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Webster's Bible Translation For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. World English Bible For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBut [to] him who is joined to all the living there is confidence, for to a living dog it [is] better than to the dead lion. Young's Literal Translation But 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. Smith's Literal Translation For whoever shall choose to all the living there is hope: for to a living dog it is good above a dead lion. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThere is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a living dog is better than a dead lion. Catholic Public Domain Version There is no one who lives forever, or who even has confidence in this regard. A living dog is better than a dead lion. New American Bible For whoever is chosen among all the living has hope: “A live dog is better off than a dead lion.” New Revised Standard Version But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Everyone who shall be joined to All Life has trust, because a living dog is better than a dead lion OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Brenton Septuagint Translation for who is he that has fellowship with all the living? there is hope of him: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Death Comes to Good and Bad…3This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead. 4There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.… Cross References Proverbs 12:28 There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death. Isaiah 38:18-19 For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. / The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness. Job 14:7-9 For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail. / If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, / at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling. Psalm 146:2-4 I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. / Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save. / When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish. Lamentations 3:26-29 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. / It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young. / Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it upon him. ... Psalm 115:17-18 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence. / But it is we who will bless the LORD, both now and forevermore. Hallelujah! Job 7:6-10 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. / Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness. / The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more. ... 2 Kings 20:1-6 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, / “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. ... Psalm 6:5 For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol? Isaiah 38:10-11 I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. Matthew 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Philippians 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. ... 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. / For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men. / But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. / For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ... Treasury of Scripture For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 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… Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 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. Jump to Previous Better Confidence Dead Dog Hope Joined Lion SurelyJump to Next Better Confidence Dead Dog Hope Joined Lion SurelyEcclesiastes 9 1. like things happen to good and bad4. there is a necessity of death unto men 7. Comfort is all their portion in this life 11. God's providence rules over all 13. wisdom is better than strength There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; This phrase emphasizes the value of life and the opportunities it presents. In the context of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher often reflects on the futility and brevity of life, yet here he acknowledges that as long as one is alive, there is potential for change, repentance, and experiencing God's grace. Biblically, hope is a recurring theme, often associated with trust in God's promises (Romans 15:13). The living have the chance to seek wisdom, make amends, and fulfill God's purposes, contrasting with the finality of death where no further earthly actions can be taken (Ecclesiastes 9:10). for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible. 2. Israel - The nation where Solomon reigned as king. The cultural and historical context of Israel during Solomon's time influences the themes of Ecclesiastes. 3. The Living and the Dead - The verse contrasts the living with the dead, using the metaphor of a "live dog" and a "dead lion" to illustrate the value of life and hope. Teaching Points The Value of LifeLife, no matter how humble, holds intrinsic value and potential for hope. The metaphor of a "live dog" versus a "dead lion" suggests that being alive, even in a lowly state, is preferable to death. Hope in the Present As long as we are alive, there is hope for change, growth, and redemption. This hope should motivate us to live purposefully and seek God's will daily. Humility and Perspective The comparison between a dog and a lion encourages humility. We should not despise small beginnings or humble circumstances, as life itself is a gift from God. Eternal Perspective While the verse emphasizes the value of earthly life, it also invites reflection on eternal life. Our time on earth is an opportunity to prepare for eternity with God. Living with Purpose Recognizing the value of life should inspire us to live intentionally, making the most of our time and opportunities to serve God and others.(4) There is a various reading here in the Hebrew. Our translators, following the older translators, adopt the reading of the margin. That of the text gives, instead of "joined," a word signifying "chosen;" the best sense that can be given to which is to translate, "For who is excepted," joining it with the previous verse, beginning this one, "To all the living," &c. With regard to the statement of the following verses, comp. Psalm 6:3 and the marginal references there given. The shepherd's dog is spoken of Job 30:1, and watchdogs Isaiah 56:10. Elsewhere in the Old Testament the dog is an unclean animal living or dead.Verse 4. - For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope. As long as a man lives (is one of living beings) he has some hope, whatever it be. This feeling is inextinguishable even unto the end. Ἄελπτον οὐδέν πάντα δ ελπίζειν χρεών "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." Thus Bailey sings, in 'Festus' - "All Have hopes, however wretched they may be, Hebrew There isיֵ֣שׁ (yêš) Adverb Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is hope, בִּטָּח֑וֹן (biṭ·ṭā·ḥō·wn) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 986: Trust however, כִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction for anyone who מִי֙ (mî) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix is among יְחֻבַּ֔ר (yə·ḥub·bar) Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select the living; הַחַיִּ֖ים (ha·ḥay·yîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life for even כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction a live חַי֙ (ḥay) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life dog לְכֶ֤לֶב (lə·ḵe·leḇ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3611: A dog, a male prostitute is better ט֔וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good than מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of a dead הַמֵּֽת׃ (ham·mêṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill lion. הָאַרְיֵ֖ה (hā·’ar·yêh) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 738: A lion Links Ecclesiastes 9:4 NIVEcclesiastes 9:4 NLT Ecclesiastes 9:4 ESV Ecclesiastes 9:4 NASB Ecclesiastes 9:4 KJV Ecclesiastes 9:4 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 9:4 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 9:4 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 9:4 French Bible Ecclesiastes 9:4 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:4 For to him who is joined (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
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