The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 9:8 Explained

Ecclesiastes 9:8

KJV: Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

YLT: At all times let thy garments be white, and let not perfume be lacking on thy head.

Darby: Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.

ASV: Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 9:8 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 9:8 mean?

All always let be your garments white and oil On your head no let lack
בְּכָל־ עֵ֕ת יִהְי֥וּ בְגָדֶ֖יךָ לְבָנִ֑ים וְשֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־ רֹאשְׁךָ֥ אַל־ יֶחְסָֽר

עֵ֕ת  always 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
יִהְי֥וּ  let  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְגָדֶ֖יךָ  your  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
לְבָנִ֑ים  white 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: לָבָן  
Sense: white.
וְשֶׁ֖מֶן  and  oil 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
רֹאשְׁךָ֥  your  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
אַל־  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
יֶחְסָֽר  let  lack 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need.