KJV King James Version
A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
WEB World English Bible
A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
ASV American Standard Version
A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Better is a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.
Surrounding context — Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2 [It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.
3 Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.Proverbs 22:1A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.Ecclesiastes 4:2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.2 Corinthians 5:8We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Philippians 1:21-23For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.Song of Solomon 1:3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.Proverbs 27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so [doth] the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.Job 3:17There the wicked cease [from] troubling; and there the weary be at rest.Proverbs 15:30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: [and] a good report maketh the bones fat.Isaiah 57:1-2The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].Isaiah 56:5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.Psalm 133:2[It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;Luke 10:20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.John 13:2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], to betray him;Hebrews 11:2For by it the elders obtained a good report.Song of Solomon 4:10How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Ecclesiastes 7:1
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:1
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →