Ecclesiastes 9:5 reflects Solomon’s exploration of life from a human perspective, where death signifies emptiness and finality without God. His phrase "the dead know nothing" emphasizes the futility of life when viewed only "under the sun," detached from God’s eternal perspective. However, despite making this statement, Solomon ultimately shifts to a God-centered perspective, declaring that life gains meaning through fearing God and keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). Ecclesiastes 9:5 challenges us to see beyond the temporary nature of earthly existence and to live in accordance with God's eternal purposes. By acknowledging God, we discover hope, purpose, and a life that transcends death.
Some argue that Ecclesiastes 9:5 supports conditional annihilationism, which contends that those who are not saved through Jesus simply cease to exist after death instead of going to hell. However, other passages from the Bible refute this thinking. In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus tells of a rich man who goes to hell, or Hades. There, he has feelings, can communicate, think, reason, and remember life on earth. So if this phrase that the dead know nothing does not describe annihilationism, what does it mean? The theme of the book of Ecclesiastes is a view of life from an earthly perspective as referenced by the phrase "under the sun," repeated about thirty times.
This verse, Ecclesiastes 9:5, is chiastic, formulated in an ABBA style.
A: "For the living know that they will die,
B "but the dead know nothing,
B "and they have no more reward,
A "for the memory of them is forgotten."
The two A lines are parallel, as are the two B lines. The two A lines contemplate the emptiness of life without God; the B lines describe the finality of emptiness of death without God.
Of course, God does exist and life on earth makes sense only with His involvement. Solomon concludes that the life of consequence is one that honors God (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
When we reflect on Ecclesiastes 9:5, we are reminded of the stark reality of a life lived "under the sun"—a perspective that excludes God. Without acknowledging Him, death appears as the ultimate void, stripping away meaning and reward, leaving only futility behind. However, when we center our lives on God, we find purpose, eternal hope, and the assurance that our existence transcends the grave. As a result, we are called to live intentionally, to fear God, and to obey His commandments. How we live this life and the choices we make have eternal significance (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). In light of this, we are called to seek a God-centered life, finding meaning and fulfillment in Him and His purposes for us.