Ecclesiastes 6:4

Ecclesiastes 6:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
• New International Version (NIV)It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
• New Living Translation (NLT)His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name,

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:4

2a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?

Ecclesiastes 6:4 word by word

כִּֽי־בַהֶ֥בֶל בָּ֖א וּבַחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּבַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ שְׁמ֥וֹ יְכֻסֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For he comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• in with vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• and departethיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• in darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• and his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• shall be coveredכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:4

• Psalms 109:13May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation!

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He … his - Rather, it … its. The untimely birth is spoken of.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-6a hundred children and live for many years: The blessings of old age and children mean nothing if life is not enjoyable or does not end well with a proper burial. It is better to be stillborn than to live a life full of unhappiness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. he--rather "it," "the untimely birth." So "its," not "his name." with vanity--to no purpose; a type of the driftless existence of him who makes riches the chief good. darkness--of the abortive; a type of the unhonored death and dark future beyond the grave of the avaricious.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings