The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 9:3 Explained

Ecclesiastes 9:3

KJV: 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.

YLT: This is an evil among all that hath been done under the sun, that one event is to all, and also the heart of the sons of man is full of evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after it -- unto the dead.

Darby: This is an evil among all that is done under the sun, that one thing befalleth all: yea, also the heart of the children of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live; and after that, they have to go to the dead.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ecclesiastes 9:3 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 9

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 over all
13  wisdom is better than strength

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 9:3 mean?

This [is] an evil in all that is done under the sun that thing [happens] one to all and Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and madness [is] in their hearts while they live and after that [they go] to the dead
זֶ֣ה ׀ רָ֗ע בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶֽׁר־ נַעֲשָׂה֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־ מִקְרֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל וְגַ֣ם לֵ֣ב בְּֽנֵי־ הָ֠אָדָם מָלֵא־ רָ֨ע וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת בִּלְבָבָם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וְאַחֲרָ֖יו אֶל־ הַמֵּתִֽים

זֶ֣ה ׀  This  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
רָ֗ע  an  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
בְּכֹ֤ל  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶֽׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נַעֲשָׂה֙  is  done 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
תַּ֣חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ  the  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מִקְרֶ֥ה  thing  [happens] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְרֶה  
Sense: unforeseen meeting or event, accident, happening, chance, fortune.
אֶחָ֖ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לַכֹּ֑ל  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
וְגַ֣ם  and  Truly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
לֵ֣ב  the  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
בְּֽנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הָ֠אָדָם  of  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
מָלֵא־  are  full 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
רָ֨ע  of  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת  and  madness  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural
Root: הֹולֵלֹות  
Sense: madness.
בִּלְבָבָם֙  in  their  hearts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם  while  they  live 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
וְאַחֲרָ֖יו  and  after  that  [they  go] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הַמֵּתִֽים  the  dead 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.