Ecclesiastes 6:4

4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

Ecclesiastes 6:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name,
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 It gets its start in a mist and ends up in the dark - unnamed.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 A stillborn baby arrives in a pointless birth and goes out into the darkness. The darkness then hides its name.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 That kind of birth doesn't have any meaning. The baby dies in darkness and leaves this world. And in darkness it is forgotten.

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 some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—
6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
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