Verse 3

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Referenced Verses

  • Luke 23:29 : 29 For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say,‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’
  • Job 3:10-16 : 10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes! 11 Job Wishes He Had Died at Birth“Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb? 12 Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them? 13 For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace 14 with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate, 15 or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver. 16 Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?
  • Job 3:22 : 22 who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?
  • Job 10:18-19 : 18 An Appeal for Relief“Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me! 19 I should have been as though I had never existed; I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!
  • Ps 55:6-9 : 6 I say,“I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! 7 Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness.(Selah) 8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale.” 9 Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city. 10 Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it. 11 Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
  • Eccl 2:17 : 17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
  • Eccl 6:3-5 : 3 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!” 4 Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, 5 though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man–
  • Jer 9:2-3 : 2 (9:1) I wish I had a lodging place in the wilderness where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. Then I would desert my people and walk away from them because they are all unfaithful to God, a congregation of people that has been disloyal to him. 3 The Lord Laments That He Has No Choice But to Judge Them The LORD says,“These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.
  • Jer 20:17-18 : 17 For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever. 18 Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.
  • Matt 24:19 : 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!