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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ecclesiastes 6:5 The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/21_Ecc_06_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ecclesiastes 6:5 - The Futility of Life" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/">Ecclesiastes</a> > <a href="/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-4.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 6:4">◄</a> Ecclesiastes 6:5 <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-6.htm" title="Ecclesiastes 6:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known <i>any thing</i>: this hath more rest than the other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Though it has not seen the sun or known <i>anything,</i> this has more rest than that man,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />It has not even seen the sun nor does it know <i>it; yet</i> it is better off than that <i>man.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ecclesiastes/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“It never sees the sun and it never knows <i>anything;</i> it is better off than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Indeed, <i>that</i> one never sees the sun and never knows <i>anything</i>; <i>that</i> one has more rest than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />It has not seen the sun nor had any knowledge; yet it has more rest <i>and</i> is better off than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, the baby finds more rest than the rich person.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />It never sees the light of day or knows what life is like, but at least it has found rest--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Furthermore, though they never saw the sun nor learned anything, they are more content than the other. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ecclesiastes/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ecclesiastes/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />even the sun he has not seen nor known, more rest has this than that.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Also he saw not the sun, and he knew not rest to this above this.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />though it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet the dead child has more peace.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ecclesiastes/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known anything, yet this one has more rest than the other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Also he does not see the sun and he knows no rest, one no more than the other<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ecclesiastes/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is <i>no more rest</i> to this one than another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8-2fxj-VcEg?start=1083" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ecclesiastes/6.htm">The Futility of Life</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">4</span>For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity. <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: lā·zeh (Prep-l:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">The child,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. ">though</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">neither</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rā·’āh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">seeing</a> <a href="/hebrew/8121.htm" title="8121: še·meš (N-cs) -- From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. A notched battlement.">the sun</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">nor</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏā‘ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">knowing anything,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5183.htm" title="5183: na·ḥaṯ (N-fs) -- From nchath; a descent, i.e. Imposition, unfavorable or favorable; also, restfulness.">has more rest</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: miz·zeh (Prep-m:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">than that man,</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/3-16.htm">Job 3:16</a></span><br />Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Psalm 58:8</a></span><br />Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-3.htm">Ecclesiastes 4:3</a></span><br />But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-18.htm">Job 10:18-19</a></span><br />Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! / If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a></span><br />Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-24.htm">Matthew 26:24</a></span><br />The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/14-1.htm">Job 14:1-2</a></span><br />“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/39-5.htm">Psalm 39:5-6</a></span><br />You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/90-9.htm">Psalm 90:9-10</a></span><br />For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh. / The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-11.htm">Isaiah 38:11</a></span><br />I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-14.htm">James 4:14</a></span><br />You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/49-17.htm">Psalm 49:17-19</a></span><br />For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. / Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper— / he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-19.htm">1 Corinthians 15:19</a></span><br />If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/1-21.htm">Philippians 1:21-23</a></span><br />For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-1.htm">2 Corinthians 5:1-4</a></span><br />For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this has more rest than the other.</p><p class="hdg">this</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-10.htm">Job 3:10-13</a></b></br> Because it shut not up the doors of my <i>mother's</i> womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/14-1.htm">Job 14:1</a></b></br> Man <i>that is</i> born of a woman <i>is</i> of few days, and full of trouble.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Psalm 58:8</a></b></br> As a snail <i>which</i> melteth, let <i>every one of them</i> pass away: <i>like</i> the untimely birth of a woman, <i>that</i> they may not see the sun.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-3.htm">Better</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-13.htm">Finds</a> <a href="/luke/23-8.htm">Gratification</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-3.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-7.htm">Rather</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-6.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-1.htm">Sun</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-9.htm">Better</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm">Finds</a> <a href="/luke/23-8.htm">Gratification</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-12.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-7.htm">Rather</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-10.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/6-12.htm">Sun</a><div class="vheading2">Ecclesiastes 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-1.htm">the vanity of riches without use</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-3.htm">though a man have many children and a long life</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-7.htm">the vanity of sight and wandering desires</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-10.htm">The conclusion of vanities</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ecclesiastes/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ecclesiastes/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything</b><br>This phrase refers to a stillborn child, a poignant image used by the author to convey the futility and vanity of life under the sun. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sun often symbolized life, vitality, and the passage of time. The child, having never seen the sun, represents a life that never began in the earthly sense. This imagery is used to emphasize the idea that sometimes it is better not to have experienced the burdens and toils of life at all. The concept of "knowing" in biblical terms often implies experiential knowledge, which the child lacks, highlighting the innocence and absence of worldly suffering. This can be connected to <a href="/job/3-16.htm">Job 3:16</a>, where Job laments his own birth, wishing he had been like a stillborn child who never saw the light of day.<p><b>has more rest than that man</b><br>The "man" in this context is someone who has lived a life full of toil and dissatisfaction, yet without finding true fulfillment or peace. The term "rest" here implies a state of peace and freedom from the struggles and vanities of life. In biblical literature, rest is often associated with the peace of God and the ultimate rest found in Him, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/4-9.htm">Hebrews 4:9-10</a>, which speaks of a Sabbath rest for the people of God. The comparison suggests that the stillborn child, despite never experiencing life, is in a state of rest that the man, burdened by life's vanities, cannot achieve. This reflects the broader theme of Ecclesiastes, which questions the meaning of life and the pursuit of earthly achievements without a relationship with God. The passage challenges readers to consider the eternal perspective and the true source of rest and fulfillment, which is found in God alone.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and writings. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature attributed to him.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_unborn_child.htm">The Unborn Child</a></b><br>The verse metaphorically refers to an unborn child who has not experienced life under the sun, symbolizing a state of rest and peace compared to the toil and vanity of life.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sun.htm">The Sun</a></b><br>Represents life and the experiences of living in the world. In Ecclesiastes, "under the sun" is a recurring phrase that denotes earthly life and its challenges.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/rest.htm">Rest</a></b><br>In this context, rest signifies peace and freedom from the struggles and vanities of life. It is a state of being that the unborn child metaphorically achieves.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/v/vanity.htm">Vanity</a></b><br>A central theme in Ecclesiastes, referring to the fleeting and often meaningless nature of worldly pursuits and achievements.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_earthly_pursuits.htm">The Futility of Earthly Pursuits</a></b><br><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5</a> highlights the futility of earthly pursuits by comparing them to the rest of an unborn child. This challenges us to evaluate our priorities and focus on eternal values rather than temporary gains.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_true_rest.htm">Understanding True Rest</a></b><br>The concept of rest in this verse invites us to seek spiritual rest in Christ, who offers peace beyond the struggles of life. Reflect on <a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">Matthew 11:28-30</a>, where Jesus invites us to find rest in Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_life's_experiences.htm">The Value of Life's Experiences</a></b><br>While the verse suggests that not experiencing life's hardships can be seen as rest, it also encourages us to find meaning and purpose in our experiences by aligning them with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_god's_plan.htm">Contentment in God's Plan</a></b><br>Recognizing the limitations of human understanding, we are called to trust in God's plan and find contentment in His provision, as Paul describes in <a href="/philippians/4-11.htm">Philippians 4:11-13</a>.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ecclesiastes_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 6</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_spiritual_emptiness.htm">What defines spiritual emptiness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_soul_sleep.htm">What does the Bible say about soul sleep?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_ecclesiastes_1_5_contradict_astronomy.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:5 - The verse suggests a geocentric view of the sun moving around the earth; does this contradict modern astronomy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'called_by_his_purpose'_mean.htm">How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ecclesiastes/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - It has seen nothing of the world, known nothing of life, its joys and its sufferings, and is speedily forgotten. To" see the sun" is a metaphor for to "live," as <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-11.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:11</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 11:7</a>; <a href="/job/3-16.htm">Job 3:16</a>, and implies activity and work, the contrary of rest. <span class="cmt_word">This hath more rest than the other</span>; literally, <span class="accented">there is rest to this more than to that</span>. The rest that belongs to the abortion is better than that which belongs to the rich man. Others take the clause to say simply, "It is better with this than the other." So the Revised Version margin and Delitzsch, the idea of "rest" being thus generalized, and taken to sights a preferable choice. Septuagint, <span class="greek">Καὶ οὐκ</span> <span class="greek">ἔγνω ἀναπαύσεις τούτῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦτον</span>, "And hath not known rest for this more than that " - which reproduces the difficulty of the Hebrew; Vulgate, <span class="accented">Neque cognovit distantiam boni et malt</span>, which is a paraphrase unsupported by the present accentuation of the text. Rest, in the conception of an Oriental, is the most desirable or' all things; compared with the busy, careworn life of the rich man, whose very moments of leisure and sleep are troubled and disturbed, the dreamless nothingness of the still-born child is happiness. This may be a rhetorical exaggeration, but we have its parallel in Job's lamentable cry in <a href="/ecclesiastes/3.htm">Ecclesiastes 3</a>. when he "cursed his day." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">[A stillborn child]</span><br /><span class="heb">לָזֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(lā·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has more rest</span><br /><span class="heb">נַ֥חַת</span> <span class="translit">(na·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5183.htm">Strong's 5183: </a> </span><span class="str2">A descent, imposition, unfavorable, favorable, restfulness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than he—</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזֶּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(miz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">though</span><br /><span class="heb">גַּם־</span> <span class="translit">(gam-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1571.htm">Strong's 1571: </a> </span><span class="str2">Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and</span><br /><br /><span class="word">never</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">seeing</span><br /><span class="heb">רָאָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(rā·’āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sun</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁ֥מֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(še·meš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8121.htm">Strong's 8121: </a> </span><span class="str2">The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">knowing anything—</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדָ֑ע</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-5.htm">OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 6:5 Moreover it has not seen the sun (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 6:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 6:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ecclesiastes 6:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ecclesiastes 6:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>