Ecclesiastes 6:4

4 For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;

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 one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil.
3 If a man beget a hundred [sons], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he.
4 For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;
5 moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.
6 Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.