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.
• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man.

Context of Ecclesiastes 6:5

3A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place? 7Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their 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 3:10for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.
• Job 14:1“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
• Psalms 58:8May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.
• Psalms 90:7We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.

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