Bible Strands
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a general audience in the book of Ecclesiastes, placing this command between exhortations to eat, drink, and enjoy marital life during one's brief time under the sun.
The words — לְבָנִ֑ים (le.va.Nim) translates to "white," and שֶׁ֖מֶן (she.men) means "oil," describing the physical state of the reader's clothing and head.
The thread — The motif of white garments recurs in Revelation 3:4, 7:13, and 19:14, where unsoiled or purified robes mark those aligned with divine favor.
Why it lands — The text commands the reader to maintain visible signs of readiness and gladness in daily routine, treating outward care as a practical response to life's brevity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Cross-references
- Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses.
- Revelation 3:4 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.
- Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
- 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.
- Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
- Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- Ruth 3:3 Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
- 2 Samuel 19:24 Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
- 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.
- Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.