Ecclesiastes 6:5

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ecclesiastes 6:5 continues the Preacher's stark comparison between a stillborn child and a long-lived, yet unfulfilled, individual. This verse asserts that the stillborn, having never experienced the world's sorrows or vanities, possesses a greater "rest" than one whose prolonged life is devoid of true satisfaction or purpose. It underscores Qoheleth's deep pessimism regarding earthly existence when viewed apart from a divine perspective, highlighting the futility of human striving "under the sun."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ecclesiastes 6:5 is an integral part of Qoheleth's exploration of life's futility and the elusive nature of satisfaction, particularly in chapters 5 and 6. Immediately preceding this verse, [Ecclesiastes 6:3-4](/ecclesiastes/6-3 "Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 - The Futility of a Long, Unfulfilled Life") presents a man who, despite living a thousand years twice over and having many children, fails to enjoy his prosperity and is denied a proper burial. Such a man, Qoheleth concludes, is worse off than a stillborn child. Verse 5 directly builds on this comparison, elaborating on *why* the stillborn's state is preferable, emphasizing its freedom from the burdens of life that plague the unfulfilled living. The broader context of [Ecclesiastes 6](/ecclesiastes/6 "Ecclesiastes 6 - The Emptiness of Wealth and Pleasure") critiques the pursuit of wealth and pleasure as ends in themselves, demonstrating their inability to bring lasting contentment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ecclesiastes reflects a period of introspection within ancient Israelite wisdom tradition, likely post-exilic, where the traditional Deuteronomic theology of immediate reward and punishment was being re-evaluated in light of life's apparent inconsistencies. The phrase "under the sun" (found frequently, e.g., in [Ecclesiastes 1:3](/ecclesiastes/1-3 "Ecclesiastes 1:3 - What Profit Under the Sun?")) is a recurring motif that defines the Preacher's limited, earthly perspective, devoid of direct divine revelation or an explicit afterlife. In this cultural setting, a long life and many descendants were considered supreme blessings ([Deuteronomy 30:19-20](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - Choose Life")), and a proper burial was essential for honor and remembrance. Qoheleth's radical assertion that a stillborn child is "better" challenges these deeply held cultural values, highlighting his profound disillusionment with a life that fails to deliver on its promises of joy and fulfillment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes pervasive throughout Ecclesiastes. Firstly, it underscores the **vanity of earthly pursuits** (Hebrew: _hevel_), suggesting that even the most cherished blessings—longevity, wealth, family—can be meaningless if not accompanied by the capacity to enjoy them, which Qoheleth attributes to God's grace ([Ecclesiastes 5:19](/ecclesiastes/5-19 "Ecclesiastes 5:19 - The Gift of Enjoyment from God")). Secondly, it explores the theme of **human powerlessness and lack of control** over life's circumstances, including one's ability to truly enjoy what one possesses. The stillborn child, by definition, is free from this struggle. Thirdly, the verse highlights the Preacher's deep **longing for rest and peace** from the toil and vexation of life, a rest that seems unattainable "under the sun" but is ironically found in non-existence. This theme implicitly points towards the ultimate conclusion of the book, which calls for fearing God and keeping His commandments as the only true path to meaning and contentment ([Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The Whole Duty of Man")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **seen (Hebrew, _râʼâh'_):** (H7200) This primitive root means "to see," literally or figuratively. In the context of "seen the sun," it functions as a common Hebrew idiom for experiencing life or being alive. The stillborn child has not "seen" or experienced the world's light, its joys, or its sorrows, thus remaining untouched by its futility.
* **known (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** (H3045) This primitive root means "to know," encompassing a wide range of senses from ascertainment by seeing to understanding, recognizing, and having intimate acquaintance. In this verse, the stillborn child has "known nothing" of the world's troubles, its disappointments, or the vanity that the Preacher so often laments. It implies an absence of experiential knowledge of life's burdens.
* **rest (Hebrew, _Nachath'_):** (H5183) Derived from a root meaning "to descend" or "to be set on," this word conveys a sense of quietness, repose, or cessation from trouble. For the stillborn, "rest" is not an active state of peace but rather the passive absence of suffering, toil, and the vexations of life "under the sun." It is a state of being undisturbed by the world's futility.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover he hath not seen the sun":** This clause refers to the stillborn child, emphasizing its lack of experience of life. "Seeing the sun" is a well-established Hebrew idiom for existing or being alive. The point is that the stillborn never entered the realm of human experience, thus avoiding the inherent struggles and dissatisfactions that Qoheleth observes in life "under the sun."
* **"nor known [any thing]:"** This further elaborates on the stillborn's non-experience. The KJV's "[any thing]" correctly interprets the implied meaning: the child has known nothing of the world's troubles, its vanities, its disappointments, or its toils. It has no experiential knowledge of the human condition, particularly its frustrating limitations and fleeting joys.
* **"this hath more rest than the other."** "This" refers to the stillborn child, while "the other" refers to the long-lived but unfulfilled man described in the preceding verses. The "rest" of the stillborn is its freedom from the burdens, anxieties, and unfulfilled desires that characterize the life of the other. It is a rest born of non-existence, a quietness undisturbed by the pursuit of fleeting pleasures or the accumulation of meaningless wealth.

#### Literary Devices
Ecclesiastes 6:5 employs several powerful **literary devices**. The most prominent is **idiom**, specifically "seen the sun," which functions as a common Hebrew expression for being alive or experiencing life. This idiomatic usage succinctly conveys the stillborn child's complete lack of worldly experience. The verse also relies heavily on **contrast**, setting the quiet non-existence of the stillborn against the burdensome, unfulfilled existence of the long-lived man. This stark juxtaposition highlights the Preacher's pessimistic conclusion that a life of futility is worse than no life at all. Furthermore, there is an element of **hyperbole** in the Preacher's assertion, as it pushes the boundaries of conventional wisdom to emphasize the depth of his disillusionment with life "under the sun" when viewed solely from an earthly perspective.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ecclesiastes 6:5, with its bleak assessment of life's value when unfulfilled, serves as a profound theological challenge, particularly to a prosperity-gospel mindset. It posits that mere longevity or material accumulation, without the capacity for true enjoyment or purpose, can be worse than never having lived. This radical perspective forces the reader to look beyond earthly metrics of success for ultimate meaning and satisfaction. The "rest" found in non-existence implicitly points to a deeper human longing for peace and cessation from toil, a longing that the Preacher ultimately suggests can only be truly met in a right relationship with God, as the book concludes. It highlights humanity's inherent spiritual emptiness when separated from its Creator, even amidst apparent earthly blessings.

* [Ecclesiastes 2:17](/ecclesiastes/2-17 "Ecclesiastes 2:17 - Hatred of Life Under the Sun")
* [Job 3:11-19](/job/3-11 "Job 3:11-19 - Job's Lament and Desire for Death")
* [Psalm 146:4](/psalms/146-4 "Psalm 146:4 - The Breath of Man Returns to Dust")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse, though seemingly dark, offers a profound mirror for self-reflection on what we truly value and pursue in life. If even a long life filled with earthly advantages can be deemed worse than non-existence, where then does genuine satisfaction lie? It challenges us to examine whether our pursuits are merely "under the sun" – focused on fleeting material gains, status, or even longevity – or if they are anchored in something eternal and truly fulfilling. The Preacher's lament for "rest" resonates with the universal human desire for peace from life's burdens. This should prompt us to seek a deeper purpose that transcends earthly struggles and disappointments, recognizing that true rest and meaning are not found in the absence of life, but in a life lived in alignment with divine purpose, which ultimately points to God Himself. It encourages us to cultivate a perspective that values spiritual contentment over worldly accumulation, and to find joy in God's provision regardless of our circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my primary pursuits in life, and are they truly bringing me lasting satisfaction or merely fleeting pleasure?**
* **How do I define "rest" or "peace" in my own life, and where do I typically seek it?**
* **In what ways might I be prioritizing earthly achievements or longevity over spiritual fulfillment and a deeper relationship with God?**

### FAQ

**Does Ecclesiastes 6:5 advocate for suicide or despair?**

Answer: No, Ecclesiastes 6:5 does not advocate for suicide or despair. Rather, it is a rhetorical device used by Qoheleth (the Preacher) to express the extreme frustration and futility he observes in life "under the sun" when it is lived without a deeper, divine purpose. The Preacher's pessimistic observations throughout the book, including this verse, are designed to dismantle false hopes placed in worldly achievements, wealth, or even a long life, thereby clearing the ground for his ultimate conclusion: that the only true meaning and satisfaction are found in fearing God and keeping His commandments ([Ecclesiastes 12:13](/ecclesiastes/12-13 "Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The Conclusion of the Whole Matter")). It's a philosophical exploration of life's meaning, not a literal endorsement of non-existence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ecclesiastes 6:5, with its lament over the futility of an unfulfilled life and the ironic "rest" of non-existence, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The "rest" that Qoheleth desperately seeks, yet only finds in the absence of life's burdens, is fully offered by Christ. Jesus himself declares, "[Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus Offers Rest")." This is not the rest of non-existence, but a spiritual rest from the burden of sin, the futility of striving, and the anxieties of a life lived apart from God. The stillborn child "has not seen the sun, nor known anything" of the world's sorrows, but Christ, the "[light of the world](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")," entered into the full experience of human suffering and death, not to escape it, but to conquer it. Through His sacrifice, He offers a life that is not "vanity" but is filled with eternal purpose and joy, a life that truly "sees the sun" in the light of God's glory ([2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - The Light of the Knowledge of God's Glory")). The knowledge of life's futility "under the sun" is overcome by the knowledge of God in Christ, who gives meaning to every moment and promises a future where there is no more sorrow or death ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.