Ecclesiastes 6:3
A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
KJV1611 – Modern English
If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, yet his soul is not filled with good, and indeed he has no burial; I say, that a premature birth is better than he.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
If a man{H376} beget{H3205} a hundred{H3967} children, and live{H2421} many{H7227} years,{H8141} so that the days{H3117} of his years{H8141} are many,{H7227} but his soul{H5315} be not filled{H7646} with good,{H2896} and moreover he have no burial;{H6900} I say,{H559} that an untimely birth{H5309} is better{H2896} than he:
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
If a man{H376} beget{H3205}{(H8686)} an hundred{H3967} children, and live{H2421}{(H8799)} many{H7227} years{H8141}, so that the days{H3117} of his years{H8141} be many{H7227}, and his soul{H5315} be not filled{H7646}{(H8799)} with good{H2896}, and also that he have no burial{H6900}; I say{H559}{(H8804)}, that an untimely birth{H5309} is better{H2896} than he.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf a man begett an hundreth children, and lyue many yeares, so that his dayes are many in nombre, and yet can not enioye his good, nether be buried: as for him I saye, that an vntymely byrth is better then he.
Geneva Bible (1560)
If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, & his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
If a man beget a hundred children, and lyue many yeres, so that his dayes are many in number, and yet can not enioy his good, neither be buryed: as for him I say, that vntymely birth is better then he.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
If a man beget an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.
Webster's Bible (1833)
If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
If a man doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, `Better than he `is' the untimely birth.'
American Standard Version (1901)
If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
American Standard Version (1901)
If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
Bible in Basic English (1941)
If a man has a hundred children, and his life is long so that the days of his years are great in number, but his soul takes no pleasure in good, and he is not honoured at his death; I say that a birth before its time is better than he.
World English Bible (2000)
If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years– even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity– even if he were to live forever– I would say,“A stillborn child is better off than he is!”
Referenced Verses
- Job 3:16 : 16 Or why was I not like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw the light?
- Eccl 4:3 : 3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
- Jer 22:19 : 19 He will have the burial of a donkey—dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.
- 2 Kgs 9:35 : 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing of her except the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands.
- Isa 14:19-20 : 19 but you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trampled underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and slain your people. The offspring of evildoers will never be remembered.
- Gen 47:9 : 9 Jacob replied to Pharaoh, 'The days of my sojourning have been one hundred thirty years. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not compare to the years of the lives of my fathers during their sojourning.'
- 1 Sam 2:20-21 : 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, ‘May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD.’ Then they would return to their home. 21 And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
- Eccl 5:17-19 : 17 Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward. 18 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 19 For they seldom reflect on the days of their life because God keeps them occupied with joy in their hearts.
- Jer 8:2 : 2 They will spread them out before the sun, the moon, and all the host of heaven, which they loved, served, followed, sought, and worshiped. They will not be gathered or buried but will be like dung on the surface of the ground.
- Jer 36:30 : 30 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body will be thrown out to the heat by day and to the frost by night.
- Matt 26:24 : 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for him if he had not been born."
- 2 Kgs 10:1 : 1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria, and Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s children, saying:
- 1 Chr 28:5 : 5 Of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the LORD’s kingdom over Israel.
- 2 Chr 11:21 : 21 Rehoboam loved Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had married eighteen wives and had sixty concubines, and he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
- Esth 5:11 : 11 Haman recounted to them the splendor of his wealth, the number of his sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the officials and servants of the king.
- Esth 7:10 : 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
- Esth 9:14-15 : 14 So the king commanded that it be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman. 15 The Jews in Susa gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they killed three hundred men in Susa. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
- Ps 58:8 : 8 May they vanish like water that flows away; when they aim their arrows, may they be blunted.
- Ps 127:4-5 : 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they confront their enemies at the gate.
- Prov 17:6 : 6 Children’s children are the crown of the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.
- Gen 33:5 : 5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, 'Who are these with you?' Jacob replied, 'They are the children whom God has graciously given to your servant.'
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 6:4-129 verses80%
4 For it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.
5 Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.
6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?
7 All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.
8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?
9 Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.
10 Whatever exists has already been given its name, and it is known what mankind is; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
- Eccl 4:2-32 verses77%
2 And I praised the dead who had already died, more than the living who are still alive.
3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
- Eccl 6:1-22 verses75%
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.
2 God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.
- Eccl 5:14-174 verses75%
14 As everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, so they depart naked as they came. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
15 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain from all his labor for the wind?
16 Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.
17 Behold, what I have seen is good and fitting: to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all one's labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his reward.
- 74%
8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.
- 73%
8 There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!
- Eccl 4:15-162 verses72%
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun following the youth, the second one, who replaces him.
16 There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 72%
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
- 72%
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- Job 27:14-152 verses72%
14 If his children multiply, it is for the sword, and his offspring will not have enough bread.
15 His survivors will be buried in death, and his widows will not weep for them.
- 72%
3 This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.
- Eccl 2:21-266 verses71%
21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?
23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?
26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 71%
21 To those who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures.
- 71%
21 For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
- 71%
1 Man, born of a woman, is short-lived and full of trouble.
- Eccl 7:1-22 verses71%
1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.
- 71%
19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.
- 70%
3 Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man is conceived.'
- 70%
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
- 70%
16 Or why was I not like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw the light?
- 70%
15 So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.
- 70%
25 While another dies in bitterness of soul, having never tasted prosperity.
- 70%
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.
- 69%
6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
- 69%
16 The grave, the barren womb, land that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, 'Enough!'
- 69%
19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
- 69%
17 So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 69%
9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.