Ecclesiastes 9:8
New International Version
Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.

New Living Translation
Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!

English Standard Version
Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Berean Standard Bible
Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.

King James Bible
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

New King James Version
Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

New American Standard Bible
See that your clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of oil on your head.

NASB 1995
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

NASB 1977
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.

Amplified Bible
Let your clothes always be white [with purity], and do not let the oil [of gladness] be lacking on your head.

Christian Standard Bible
Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head.

American Standard Version
Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.

Contemporary English Version
Dress up, comb your hair, and look your best.

English Revised Version
Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack ointment.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Always wear clean clothes, and never go without lotion on your head.

Good News Translation
Always look happy and cheerful.

International Standard Version
Always keep your garments white, and don't fail to anoint your head.

Majority Standard Bible
Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.

NET Bible
Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.

New Heart English Bible
Let your garments be always white, and do not let your head lack oil.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

World English Bible
Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
At all times let your garments be white, and do not let oil be lacking on your head.

Young's Literal Translation
At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.

Smith's Literal Translation
In all time thy garments shall be white; and ointment shall not be wanting upon thy head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart from thy head.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let your garments be white at all times, and let not oil be absent from your head.

New American Bible
At all times let your garments be white, and spare not the perfume for your head.

New Revised Standard Version
Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Always let your garments be white and let not your head lack oil
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let thy garments be always white; And let thy head lack no oil.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let thy garments be always white; and let not oil be wanting on thine head.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Enjoy Your Portion in This Life
7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: 8Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head. 9Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.…

Cross References
Isaiah 61:10
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Revelation 3:4-5
But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white. / Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.

Matthew 22:11-12
But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. / ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.

Psalm 45:7-8
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy. / All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.

Revelation 19:8
She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.

Zechariah 3:3-5
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel. / So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.” / Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.

Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Genesis 41:14
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

Esther 8:15
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

Job 29:14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Matthew 6:17
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

2 Chronicles 5:12
all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

Daniel 7:9
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.


Treasury of Scripture

Let your garments be always white; and let your head lack no ointment.

thy garments

2 Samuel 19:24
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

Esther 8:15
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Revelation 3:4,5
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy…

let thy head

Ruth 3:3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

2 Samuel 14:2
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

Daniel 10:3
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

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Ecclesiastes 9
1. like things happen to good and bad
4. there is a necessity of death unto men
7. Comfort is all their portion in this life
11. God's providence rules over all
13. wisdom is better than strength














Let your garments always be white
In the ancient Near Eastern culture, white garments were often associated with joy, purity, and celebration. The Hebrew word for "white" (לָבָן, laban) signifies brightness and purity. This phrase encourages believers to live in a state of spiritual readiness and joy, reflecting the righteousness and purity that comes from a life aligned with God's will. White garments are also symbolic of the righteousness of the saints, as seen in Revelation 19:8, where the fine linen represents the righteous acts of God's people. This exhortation is a call to maintain a life of holiness and joy, regardless of life's uncertainties, trusting in God's providence.

and never spare the oil for your head
Oil in biblical times was a symbol of blessing, prosperity, and the Holy Spirit's anointing. The Hebrew word for "oil" (שֶׁמֶן, shemen) was used for anointing kings and priests, signifying God's favor and presence. In this context, the phrase suggests living life to the fullest, embracing the blessings and anointing God provides. It is an encouragement to not withhold from oneself the joy and abundance that God offers. The oil for the head also implies a life of dignity and honor, as anointing the head was a common practice during festive occasions. This phrase invites believers to live in the fullness of God's joy and blessing, continually refreshed and empowered by His Spirit.

-82Samuel 12:20; 2Samuel 14:2; Psalm 45:8; Psalm 104:14; Revelation 7:9.

Verse 8. - Let thy garments be always white. The Preacher brings into prominence certain particulars of enjoyment, more noticeable than mere eating and drinking. White garments in the East (as among ourselves) were symbols of joy and purity. Thus the singers in Solomon's temple were arrayed in white linen (2 Chronicles 5:12). Mordecai was thus honored by King Ahasuerus (Esther 8:15), the angels are seen similarly decked (Mark 16:5), and the glorified saints are clothed in white (Revelation 3:4, 5, 18). So in the pseudepi-graphal books the same imagery is retained. Those that "have fulfilled the Law of the Lord have received glorious garments, and are clothed in white" (2 Esdr. 2:39, 40). Among the Romans the same symbolism obtained. Horace ('Sat.,' 2:2. 60) -

"Ille repotia, natales aliosve dierum
Festes albatus celebret."

"Though he in whitened toga celebrate
His wedding, birthday, or high festival."
Let thy head lack no ointment. Oil and perfumes were used on festive occasions not only among Eastern nations, but by Greeks and Romans (see on Ecclesiastes 7:1). Thus Telemachus is anointed with fragrant oil by the fair Polykaste (Homer, 'Od,' 3:466). Sappho complains to Phaen (Ovid,' Heroid.' 15:76) -

"Non Arabs noster rore capillus olet." . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Let your clothes
בְגָדֶ֖יךָ (ḇə·ḡā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

always
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

be
יִהְי֥וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

white,
לְבָנִ֑ים (lə·ḇā·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3836: White

and never
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

spare
יֶחְסָֽר׃ (yeḥ·sār)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2637: To lack, need, be lacking, decrease

the oil
וְשֶׁ֖מֶן (wə·še·men)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your head.”
רֹאשְׁךָ֥ (rō·šə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let your garments be always white (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
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