---
title: "Ellicott"
description: "IX. (1) No man knoweth.—If this verse stood by itself we should understand, “Man cannot know whether he will experience marks of the Divine favour, or the"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/ellicotts-commentary-for-english-readers/ecclesiastes/9"
---

**IX.**
(1) **No man knoweth.—**If this verse stood by itself we should understand, “Man cannot know whether he will experience marks of the Divine favour, or the reverse;” but taking [Ecclesiastes 9:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/6) into account, we understand of a man’s own love or hatred the objects of which he cannot tell beforehand.
**By all.—**Rather, *all is before them.
*

*(*2*)* **He that sweareth.—**[Zechariah 5:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/5/3).

(3) We have again the sentiments expressed in [Ecclesiastes 2:14-16](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/14-16); [Ecclesiastes 3:19](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/19); [Ecclesiastes 5:15](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/15); [Ecclesiastes 6:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/6/12).

(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. [Psalms 6:3](../../../kjv/psalms/6/3)**and the marginal references there given. The shepherd’s dog is spoken of [Job 30:1](../../../kjv/job/30/1), and watchdogs [Isaiah 56:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/10). Elsewhere in the Old Testament the dog is an unclean animal living or dead.

(6, 7) **Now.**—Rather, *long ago.
*

(7) **Accepteth.**—The thought has been expressed before ([Ecclesiastes 2:24](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/24); [Ecclesiastes 8:15](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/15)), that earthly enjoyment is to**be received as given by God’s favour.

(8) [2 Samuel 12:20](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/20); [2 Samuel 14:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/14/2); [Psalms 45:8](../../../kjv/psalms/45/8); [Psalms 104:14](../../../kjv/psalms/104/14); [Revelation 7:9](../../../kjv/revelation/7/9).

(10) **Thy hand findeth.—**[Leviticus 12:8](../../../kjv/leviticus/12/8); [Judges 9:33](../../../kjv/judges/9/33); and margin, *reff.*
**The grave.—***Sheol*([John 9:4](../../../kjv/john/9/4)).

(11) [Romans 9:16](../../../kjv/romans/9/16).
**Chance.**—Elsewhere only in [1 Kings 5:4](../../../kjv/1-kings/5/4).

(12) [Proverbs 7:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/23); [Ezekiel 12:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/13); [Hosea 7:12](../../../kjv/hosea/7/12).

(14) Idle attempts have been made to find a historic reference in this passage. What is here told is so like the story ([2 Samuel 20](../../../kjv/2-samuel/20)) of the deliverance of Abel-beth-Maachah by a wise woman, whose name, nevertheless, has not been preserved, that we cannot even be sure that the writer had any other real history in his mind.

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