Ecclesiastes 6:5

Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known [any thing]: this hath more rest than the other.

Moreover he hath not seen {H7200} the sun {H8121}, nor known {H3045} any thing: this {H2088} hath more rest {H5183} than {H2088} the other.

and although it has never seen or known the sun, it is more content than he is,

The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,

moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

Context

Ecclesiastes 6:5 is part of a larger argument by the Preacher (Qoheleth) about the vanity and futility of life "under the sun", especially when lived without true satisfaction or meaning. In the preceding verses (Ecclesiastes 6:3-4), the Preacher presents a stark comparison: a man who lives a long, prosperous life but fails to enjoy his wealth and is denied proper burial is deemed worse off than a stillborn child. This verse continues that unsettling comparison, emphasizing the "advantage" of never having experienced life's sorrows.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • The "Advantage" of Non-Existence: The verse states that the stillborn child "hath not seen the sun, nor known [any thing]," meaning it has not experienced the struggles, disappointments, or futility that often characterize human life. From the Preacher's perspective in this section, such a state is preferable to a long, unfulfilled existence.
  • Seeking True Rest: The phrase "this hath more rest than the other" highlights the Preacher's deep longing for peace and cessation from the burdens of life. For the stillborn, "rest" is simply the absence of suffering and toil. This contrasts sharply with the arduous and often unsatisfying pursuits of those living "under the sun."
  • Pessimism of Earthly Pursuit: This verse underscores the Preacher's profound pessimism regarding life's ultimate value when viewed purely from a human, earthly perspective. Without a divine perspective or spiritual satisfaction, even a long life can seem worse than never having lived.

Linguistic Insights

The expression "seen the sun" is a common Hebrew idiom for experiencing life or being alive. The KJV's addition of "[any thing]" helps clarify that the stillborn child has known nothing of the world's troubles or the vanity the Preacher so often laments. The Hebrew word for "rest" here (נוּחַ - nuach) conveys a sense of quietness, repose, or cessation from trouble, emphasizing the relief from suffering that the stillborn experiences by default.

Practical Application

While seemingly dark, Ecclesiastes 6:5 serves as a profound challenge to our understanding of what constitutes a "good" or "meaningful" life. It prompts us to consider:

  • The Nature of True Satisfaction: If a long life filled with earthly advantages can still be deemed worse than non-existence, where does true satisfaction lie? This verse subtly points beyond material wealth or longevity as sources of ultimate joy.
  • Perspective on Suffering: It acknowledges the profound pain and futility that can be part of human experience, urging us to seek a deeper purpose or meaning that transcends earthly struggles.
  • The Quest for Peace: The desire for "rest" is universal. This verse, by presenting rest as the absence of worldly trouble, implicitly points towards a higher form of peace and fulfillment that can only be found in a relationship with God, as the book of Ecclesiastes ultimately concludes (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This contrasts with the spiritual rest offered by Christ to those who are weary and burdened.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 58:8

    As a snail [which] melteth, let [every one of them] pass away: [like] the untimely birth of a woman, [that] they may not see the sun.

  • Job 3:10

    Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

  • Job 3:13

    For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

  • Psalms 90:7

    ¶ For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

  • Psalms 90:9

    For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale [that is told].

  • Job 14:1

    ¶ Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.
← Back