Ecclesiastes 6:4

4 A baby born dead is useless. It returns to darkness without even a name.

Ecclesiastes 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 6:4

For he cometh in with vanity
The Targum adds, "into this world." Some understand this of the abortive, and render it, "though he cometh in with vanity" F24, yet is to be preferred to the covetous man: others interpret it of the covetous man himself; and scrape of both: or, however, they may be compared together in these instances; the abortive comes into the world in vain, for nothing, and answers no purpose, as can well be observed; and the same may be said of a covetous rich man; he walks in a vain show, and is altogether vanity, in his coming in, in his life, and going out; and departeth in darkness;
or, "into darkness" F25; goes out of the world without any notice taken of him; and goes down to the dark grave, where he lies in obscurity; and his name shall be covered with darkness;
the abortive has no name, and is never spoken of; and so the name and memory of such a man as is here described rot and perish: and in this respect the abortive has the preference to him; for though he is covered with darkness, yet no ill is ever spoken of him; whereas the name of the wicked covetous man is cursed.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (ab yk) "quamvis venit", Drusius.
F25 (Kvxb) "in tenebrositatem", Montanus; "in tenebras", Tigurine version, Mercerus, so Broughton.

Ecclesiastes 6:4 In-Context

2 God gives great wealth, riches, and honor to some people; they have everything they want. But God does not let them enjoy such things; a stranger enjoys them instead. This is useless and very wrong.
3 A man might have a hundred children and live a long time, but what good is it if he can't enjoy the good God gives him or have a proper burial? I say a baby born dead is better off than he is.
4 A baby born dead is useless. It returns to darkness without even a name.
5 That baby never saw the sun and never knew anything, but it finds more rest than that man.
6 Even if he lives two thousand years, he doesn't enjoy the good God gives him. Everyone is going to the same place.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.