The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 9:4 Explained

Ecclesiastes 9:4

KJV: For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

YLT: 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.

Darby: For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

ASV: For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  to him that is  joined  {08675;0977:08792} to all the living  there is hope:  for a living  dog  is better  than a dead  lion. 

What does Ecclesiastes 9:4 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 9:4 mean?

But who [is he] that - is joined to all the living there is hope for a dog living is better than a lion dead
כִּי־ מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר [יבחר] (יְחֻבַּ֔ר) אֶ֥ל כָּל־ הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־ לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־ הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת

מִי֙  who  [is  he] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
[יבחר]  - 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
(יְחֻבַּ֔ר)  is  joined 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
הַחַיִּ֖ים  the  living 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
יֵ֣שׁ  there  is 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
בִּטָּח֑וֹן  hope 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּטָּחֹון  
Sense: trust, confidence, hope.
לְכֶ֤לֶב  a  dog 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּלֶב  
Sense: dog.
חַי֙  living 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
ט֔וֹב  better 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
מִן־  than 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הָאַרְיֵ֖ה  a  lion 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרִי 
Sense: lion.
הַמֵּֽת  dead 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.

What are the major concepts related to Ecclesiastes 9:4?

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