◄ Ecclesiastes 9:4 ►
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
Study Bible
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living;

Life under the sun remains a gift from God and a season for obedience, wisdom, repentance, and faithful service. Though death comes to all, the living can still turn from sin, pursue what is right, repair wrongs, and receive God’s mercy. The Preacher contrasts the opportunities of earthly life with death’s end to human labor and activity in this world (Ecclesiastes 9:10). God’s final judgment and the hope of resurrection stand beyond the horizon of this observation, but no one should presume upon tomorrow.

Psa 27:13 Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD…
Psa 118:17 I will not die, but I will live and proclaim…
Isa 38:18-19 For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You.…

for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Dogs were commonly viewed with contempt in the ancient world, while lions represented strength, honor, and royal power. Yet a despised living dog possesses what a dead lion does not: the ability to act, choose, serve, and respond to God. Death strips earthly greatness of its power and exposes the vanity of status, wealth, and human achievement. Humble life before God is of greater value than past glory that can no longer bear fruit.

Php 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.…
Psa 49:14-15 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.…
Jhn 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”…

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 Life
Life, 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.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the metaphor of a "live dog" versus a "dead lion" challenge our perceptions of value and status in life?

2. In what ways can we cultivate hope in our daily lives, even when circumstances seem humble or challenging?

3. How does Ecclesiastes 9:4 encourage us to view our current life in light of eternity?

4. What practical steps can we take to live with purpose and intention, knowing that life is a precious gift from God?

5. How do other scriptures, such as Psalm 146:4 and Isaiah 38:18-19, reinforce the message of hope and the value of life found in Ecclesiastes 9:4?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 146:4
- This verse speaks about the cessation of plans and thoughts at death, emphasizing the finality of death and the importance of life.

Proverbs 12:10
- This verse contrasts the righteous and the wicked, similar to how Ecclesiastes contrasts the living and the dead, using animals as metaphors.

Isaiah 38:18-19
- These verses highlight the theme of hope and praise being possible only among the living, reinforcing the message of Ecclesiastes 9:4.
Sermons
Life is EverythingW. Clarkson Ecclesiastes 9:4
Lion or DogF. Hastings.Ecclesiastes 9:4
Reality Versus ShowA. J. Bray.Ecclesiastes 9:4
Sinners, Living and DeadHomilistEcclesiastes 9:4
The Delusion of Common Lily Rebuked and CorrectedJ. Hughes.Ecclesiastes 9:4
Inexorable DestinyJ. Willcock Ecclesiastes 9:1-6
Life and DeathD. Thomas Ecclesiastes 9:4-6
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Better, Confidence, Dead, Dog, Hope, Joined, Lion, Surely
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ecclesiastes 9:4

     4630   dog
     9611   hope, nature of

Ecclesiastes 9:2-6

     4938   fate, final destiny

Ecclesiastes 9:3-10

     8779   materialism, nature of

Library
The Lapse of Time.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."--Eccles. ix. 10. Solomon's advice that we should do whatever our hand findeth to do with our might, naturally directs our thoughts to that great work in which all others are included, which will outlive all other works, and for which alone we really are placed here below--the salvation of our souls. And the consideration of this great work, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

A Home Mission Sermon
"What a dear Saviour we have found," and heralding the coming of our Master. We are here as the salt to preserve a world, which else would become putrid and destroyed. We are here as the very pillars of this world's happiness: for when God shall take away his saints, the universal moral fabric "shall tumble to its fall; and great shall be the crash, when the righteous shall be removed, and the foundations shall be shaken. Taking it therefore as granted that the people of God are here to do something …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Three Youths Save Constantinople
Now there was found in that city a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no one remembered that same poor man. Eccl. ix. 15. After these events it really seems as if Gaïnas, to use a modern expression, had completely lost his head, or, to give the view of it taken by himself and his contemporaries, as if a demon had begun to trouble him; for his conduct became aimless and uncertain. Discontent, revenge, ambition, and evil counsels destroyed in him all capacity for wise …
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^A Matt. I. 18-25. ^a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. We are not to probe into its mysteries with presumptuous curiosity. The birth of common persons is mysterious enough (Eccl. ix. 5; Ps. cxxxix. 13-16), and we do not well, therefore, if we seek to be wise above what is written as to the birth of the Son of God] of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed [The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Moral Depravity.
In discussing the subject of human depravity, I shall,-- I. Define the term depravity. The word is derived from the Latin de and pravus. Pravus means "crooked." De is intensive. Depravatus literally and primarily means "very crooked," not in the sense of original or constitutional crookedness, but in the sense of having become crooked. The term does not imply original mal-conformation, but lapsed, fallen, departed from right or straight. It always implies deterioration, or fall from a former state …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Epistle cxxvii. From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory .
From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory [89] . To the holy lord, and father in Christ, the Roman [pope], most fair ornament of the Church, a certain most august flower, as it were, of the whole of withering Europe, distinguished speculator, as enjoying a divine contemplation of purity (?) [90] . I, Bargoma [91] , poor dove in Christ, send greeting. Grace to thee and peace from God the Father [and] our [Lord] Jesus Christ. I am pleased to think, O holy pope, that it will seem to thee nothing extravagant …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Relation v. Observations on Certain Points of Spirituality.
1. "What is it that distresses thee, little sinner? Am I not thy God? Dost thou not see how ill I am treated here? If thou lovest Me, why art thou not sorry for Me? Daughter, light is very different from darkness. I am faithful; no one will be lost without knowing it. He must be deceiving himself who relies on spiritual sweetnesses; the true safety lies in the witness of a good conscience. [1] But let no one think that of himself he can abide in the light, any more than he can hinder the natural …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity of my position not to hold my peace. For it is written, Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet (Isai. lviii. 1). And again it is written, I have given thee for a watchman …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
We read in the Mishnah (Kidd. iv. 14) as follows: "Rabbi Meir said: Let a man always teach his son a cleanly and a light trade; and let him pray to Him whose are wealth and riches; for there is no trade which has not both poverty and riches, and neither does poverty come from the trade nor yet riches, but everything according to one's deserving (merit). Rabbi Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said: Hast thou all thy life long seen a beast or a bird which has a trade? Still they are nourished, and that …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
TIMOTHY after his Conversion to the Christian Faith, being found to be a Man of great Parts, Learning, and Piety, and so every way qualified for the work of the Ministry, St. Paul who had planted a Church at Ephesus the Metropolis or chief City of all Asia, left him to dress and propagate it, after his departure from it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to visit and exercise Jurisdiction over them, to see they did not teach false Doctrines, 1 Tim. i. 3. That they be unblameable in …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God," &C.
Matth. vi. 33.--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God," &c. II. The Christian's chief employment should be to seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof. "Seek first," &c. Upon this he should first and chiefly spend his thoughts, and affections, and pains. We comprehend it in three things. First, He should seek to be clothed upon with Christ's righteousness, and this ought to take up all his spirit. This is the first care and the chief concern. Did not this righteousness weigh much …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision D. Parable of the Lost Son. ^C Luke XV. 11-32. ^c 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons [These two sons represent the professedly religious (the elder) and the openly irreligious (the younger). They have special reference to the two parties found in the first two verses of this chapter --the Pharisees, the publicans and sinners]: 12 and the younger of them [the more childish and easily deceived] said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Original Sin
Q-16: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM'S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him, by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,' &c. Rom 5:12. Adam being a representative person, while he stood, we stood; when he fell, we fell, We sinned in Adam; so it is in the text, In whom all have sinned.' Adam was the head …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ecclesiastes
It is not surprising that the book of Ecclesiastes had a struggle to maintain its place in the canon, and it was probably only its reputed Solomonic authorship and the last two verses of the book that permanently secured its position at the synod of Jamnia in 90 A.D. The Jewish scholars of the first century A.D. were struck by the manner in which it contradicted itself: e.g., "I praised the dead more than the living," iv. 2, "A living dog is better than a dead lion," ix. 4; but they were still more …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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