Ecclesiastes 6:5

Ecclesiastes 6:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
• New International Version (NIV)Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:5

3Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years – even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity – even if he were to live forever – I would say, “A stillborn child is better off than he is!” 4Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man – 6if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die! 7All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach – yet his appetite is never satisfied!

Ecclesiastes 6:5 word by word

גַּם־שֶׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹא־רָאָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע נַ֥חַת לָזֶ֖ה מִזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreover he hath not seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the sunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁshemesh · sunH8121
• nor knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• hath more restנַ֫חַתnachath · quietnessH5183

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 6:5

• Job 3:10because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes!
• Job 14:1“Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.
• Psalms 58:8Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along! Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun!
• Psalms 90:7Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 6:5

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Rather, it hath not seen nor known the sun: this (the untimely birth) hath rest rather than the other.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. 55. this--yet "it has more rest than" the toiling, gloomy miser.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