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Ecclesiastes 9:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Ecclesiastes 9:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “This is an evil in all that is 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

This is an evil in all that is 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 9:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Ecclesiastes 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.
2All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3This is an evil in all that is 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.
4For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.
← Ecclesiastes 9:2Ecclesiastes 9:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all, etc.] A very great evil, a very sore one, the worst of evils. Not an evil, as the providence of God is concerned with it, who does no evil; nor is there any unrighteousness in him; he is righteous in all his ways: but this is an evil, and distressing thing, to the minds of good men; (see <197302>Psalm 73:2,12-14) (<241201>Jeremiah 12:1); and is what bad men make an ill use of, to harden themselves in sin, and to despise religion as an unprofitable thing, (<182114>Job 21:14,15); yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil: they are naturally full of evil, of all unrighteousness and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Translate, "There is an evil above all (evils) that are done," &c., namely, that not only "there is one event to all," but "also the heart of the sons of men" makes this fact a reason for "madly" persisting in "evil while they live, and after that," &c., sin is "madness." the dead-- (Pro 2:18; Pro 9:18).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Ecclesiastes 8:11. The seeming indiscriminateness of the course of events tends to encourage evil-disposed men in their folly. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“An evil - A great trouble to a good man. Is full - Of wickedness. Madness - They go on madly and desperately in evil courses. They go - After all, they die in the same manner as the best men do. Ecclesiastes 9:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:3 When punishments, including death, are delayed, people continue their own mad course, perhaps intensifying their sin and foolishness.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“also: Ecc 8:11; Gen 6:5, Gen 8:21; Job 15:16; Psa 51:5; Jer 17:9; Mat 15:19, Mat 15:20; Mar 7:21-23; Rom 1:29-31; Tit 3:3 and madness: Ecc 1:17, Ecc 7:25; Luk 6:11, Luk 15:17; Act 26:11, Act 26:24; Pe2 2:16 after: Ecc 12:7; Pro 14:32; Act 12:23 Ecclesiastes 9:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that one event happeneth to all: and also the heart of the children of men is full of evil; and madness possesseth their heart during their life, and after it they go to the dead." As זה, Ecc 9:1, points to the asher following, in which it unfolds itself, so here to the ki following. We do not translate: This is the worst thing (Jerome: hoc est pessimum), which, after Jos 14:15; Jdg 6:15; Sol 1:8, would have required the words בכל הרע - the author does not designate the equality of fate as the greatest evil, but as an evil mixed with all earthly events. It is an evil in itself, as being a contradiction to the moral order of the world; and…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification