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Ecclesiastes 9:4

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Ecclesiastes 9:4

Verse 4 of 18

Scripture focus

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

Ecclesiastes 9:4 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:4

Theological / Devotional

Hope. This emphatic Hebrew word translated “hope” is given as “confidence” in 2 Kings 18:19 and Isa. 36:4. The verb root has the meaning of “trust” (see Ps. 25:2 ; 26:1; 28:7).

A living dog. The dog is depicted in the Bible as the most despised of all animals (Ex. 22:31; 1 Sam. 17:43; Prov. 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22), and is so regarded today in Eastern countries. The dog is a symbol of the viciously wicked (Ps. 22:16; 59:2, 6, 14; Isa. 56:10, 11; Rev. 22:14, 15).

A dead lion. The lion is set forth as a symbol of majesty and might (Prov. 30:30), and, accordingly, of God and Christ (Rev. 5:5; cf. Hosea 13:4-7).

By SdaBc