Ecclesiastes 7:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב וְיוֹם הַמָּוֶת מִיּוֹם הִוָּלְדוֹ

Transliteration

Ṭôḇ šēm from-šemen ṭôḇ wə-yôm the-māweṯ from-yôm hiwwālḏô

Grammar Details

• *Ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/better
• *šēm*: noun, masculine singular - name/reputation
• *šemen*: noun, masculine singular - oil/ointment
• *ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/precious
• *wə-yôm*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and day
• *māweṯ*: noun, masculine singular with definite article - the death
• *yôm*: noun, masculine singular - day
• *hiwwālḏô*: Niphal infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - of his being born

Word Meanings

• *Ṭôḇ*: good/better/more valuable
• *šēm*: name/reputation/renown
• *šemen ṭôḇ*: precious oil/fine perfume/costly ointment
• *māweṯ*: death/dying
• *hiwwālḏô*: one's birth/being born

Referenced Verses

• Prov 22:1 : 1 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
• Eccl 4:2 : 2 Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
• Song 1:3 : 3 Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is [as] oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee.
• 2 Cor 5:8 : 8 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
• Phil 1:21-23 : 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in the [flesh,—] [if] this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. 23 But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:
• Rev 14:13 : 13 And I heard the voice from heaven saying, {G3427} Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
• Prov 15:30 : 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; [And] good tidings make the bones fat.
• Heb 11:2 : 2 For {G1722} therein the elders had witness borne to them.
• Heb 11:39 : 39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
• Isa 56:5 : 5 Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
• Isa 57:1-2 : 1 The 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]. 2 He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.
• Luke 10:20 : 20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but {G3123} rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
• John 13:2 : 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him,
• 2 Cor 5:1 : 1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
• Eccl 10:1 : 1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
• Prov 27:9 : 9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.
• Job 3:17 : 17 There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.
• Ps 133:2 : 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments;
• Song 4:10 : 10 How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!