the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
Let your garments always be white; and don't let your head lack oil.
Put on nice clothes and make yourself look good.
Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Let your garments be always white, and don't let your head lack oil.
Let your clothes always be white [with purity], and do not let the oil [of gladness] be lacking on your head.
Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.
In ech tyme thi clothis be white, and oile faile not fro thin heed.
Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack ointment.
"Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head."
Dress up, comb your hair, and look your best.
Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.
Let your clothing be white at all times, and let not your head be without oil.
Let your clothing always be white, and never fail to perfume your head.
Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.
Wear nice clothes and make yourself look good.
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no oil.
Let thy garments bee alwayes white; and let thy head lacke no oyntment.
Let your clothes be white all the time. And let there always be oil on your head.
Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.
At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oyle be lacking vpon thine head.
Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.
Always look happy and cheerful.
Continually, let thy garments be white, - and, ointment upon thy bead, let it not be lacking.
At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart from thy head.
Let your garments be always white; let not oil be lacking on your head.
Let thy garmentes be alwayes white, and let thy head lacke no oyntment.
Let thy garments be always white; and let not oil be wanting on thine head.
Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head.
Let your garments be always white, and don't let your head lack oil.
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Always be clothed in white garments, and never let your head lack oil!
Let your garments be white at every time; and let your head lack no ointment.
At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.
Let thy garmetes be all waye whyte, & let yi heade want no oyntmet.
See that your clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of oil on your head.
Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
thy garments: 2 Samuel 19:24, Esther 8:15, Revelation 3:4, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13, Revelation 7:14, Revelation 16:15, Revelation 19:8, Revelation 19:14
let thy head: Ruth 3:3, 2 Samuel 14:2, Daniel 10:3, Amos 6:6, Matthew 6:17, Luke 7:46
Reciprocal: Genesis 5:5 - and he died 2 Samuel 12:20 - anointed Isaiah 61:3 - the oil Matthew 26:7 - very Luke 7:38 - and anointed
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Let thy garments be always white,.... That is, neat and clean, not vile and sordid; what is comely and decent, and suitable to a man's circumstances; this colour is particularly mentioned because much used in the eastern countries, and in Judea; hence we so often read of washing garments, and of fullers that whitened them; and especially on festival days and days of rejoicing, to which Horace a refers; and here it signifies that every day should be like a festival or day of rejoicing to a good man, to whom God has given the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, Isaiah 61:3; and though there may be times for mourning, and so of putting on other apparel, yet, in common and ordinarily, this should be the habit, decent and comely apparel. The ancient Jews in Aben Ezra, and so Jarchi, interpret it of an unblemished conversation; and Kimchi b of repentance and good works; and so the Targum,
"let thy garments be white (or washed) from all filth of sin;''
or be without any spot of sin, as Alshech; the conversation garments of the saints are made white in the blood of Christ, and his righteousness is fine linen, and white; and even eternal glory and happiness is signified by walking with him in white, Revelation 7:14;
and let thy head lack no ointment: which used to be poured plentifully on the heads of guests at feasts c, for the refreshment of them, which gave pleasure, and a sweet odour and fragrancy, and was much in use in those hot countries; see Psalms 23:5; and is opposed to a gloomy and melancholy carriage and deportment, Matthew 6:17; hence we read of the oil of joy and gladness, Psalms 45:7. The Jews before mentioned interpreted this of a good name better than ointment, Ecclesiastes 7:1. So the Targum,
"and a good name, which is like to anointing oil, get; that blessings may come upon thy head, and thy goodness fail not.''
a "Ille repotia natales aliosque dierum, festos albatus celebret". Satyr. l. 2. Sat. 2. v. 60, 61. "Cum ipse epuli Dominus albatus esset", Cicero in Vatin. c. 13. b Comment. in lsa. lxv. 13. c "Coronatus nitentes malabathro Syrio capillos", Horat. Carmin. l. 2. Ode 7. v. 7, 8. "et paulo post: funde capacibus unguenta de conchis", v. 22, 23. "Unguentum (fateor) bonum dedisti convivis", Martial. l. 3. Epigr. 11.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Read these six verses connectedly, in order to arrive at the meaning of the writer; and compare Ecclesiastes 2:1-12.
After the description Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 of the portionless condition of the dead, the next thought which occurs is that the man who is prosperous and active should simply enjoy his portion all through this life Ecclesiastes 9:7-10; and then Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 follows the correcting thought (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 note), introduced as usual Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 4:1, Ecclesiastes 4:7 by “I returned,” namely, that the course of events is disposed and regulated by another will than that of man.
The person addressed is one whose life of labor is already pleasing to God, and who bears visible tokens of God’s favor.
Ecclesiastes 9:7
Now accepteth - Rather: “already has pleasure in.” Joy (the marginal reference note) is regarded as a sign of the approbation and favor of God.
Ecclesiastes 9:8
White garments and perfume are simply an expressive sign of joy.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
The works which we carry on here with the combined energies of body and soul come to an end in the hour of death, when the soul enters a new sphere of existence, and body and soul cease to act together. Compare John 9:4.
Device - See Ecclesiastes 7:25 note.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Chance - Or, “incident,” that which comes to us from without, one of the external events described in Ecclesiastes 3:0. Compare Ecclesiastes 2:14 note.
Ecclesiastes 9:12
Time - See Ecclesiastes 3:1 ff.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 9:8. Let thy garments be always white — The Jews wore white garments on festal occasions, as emblems of joy and innocence. Be always pure, and always happy. The inhabitants of India are all dressed in clean white cotton, and to this is the allusion in the text.
The Targum says: "At all times let thy garments be washed and pure from the stain of sin. Acquire a good name, which is likened to the oil of anointing, that blessings may be called down up thy head, and goodness not forsake thee."
