The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anythingThis phrase refers to a stillborn child, a poignant image used by the author to convey the futility and vanity of life under the sun. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sun often symbolized life, vitality, and the passage of time. The child, having never seen the sun, represents a life that never began in the earthly sense. This imagery is used to emphasize the idea that sometimes it is better not to have experienced the burdens and toils of life at all. The concept of "knowing" in biblical terms often implies experiential knowledge, which the child lacks, highlighting the innocence and absence of worldly suffering. This can be connected to
Job 3:16, where Job laments his own birth, wishing he had been like a stillborn child who never saw the light of day.
has more rest than that man
The "man" in this context is someone who has lived a life full of toil and dissatisfaction, yet without finding true fulfillment or peace. The term "rest" here implies a state of peace and freedom from the struggles and vanities of life. In biblical literature, rest is often associated with the peace of God and the ultimate rest found in Him, as seen inHebrews 4:9-10, which speaks of a Sabbath rest for the people of God. The comparison suggests that the stillborn child, despite never experiencing life, is in a state of rest that the man, burdened by life's vanities, cannot achieve. This reflects the broader theme of Ecclesiastes, which questions the meaning of life and the pursuit of earthly achievements without a relationship with God. The passage challenges readers to consider the eternal perspective and the true source of rest and fulfillment, which is found in God alone.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and writings. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature attributed to him.
2.
The Unborn ChildThe verse metaphorically refers to an unborn child who has not experienced life under the sun, symbolizing a state of rest and peace compared to the toil and vanity of life.
3.
The SunRepresents life and the experiences of living in the world. In Ecclesiastes, "under the sun" is a recurring phrase that denotes earthly life and its challenges.
4.
RestIn this context, rest signifies peace and freedom from the struggles and vanities of life. It is a state of being that the unborn child metaphorically achieves.
5.
VanityA central theme in Ecclesiastes, referring to the fleeting and often meaningless nature of worldly pursuits and achievements.
Teaching Points
The Futility of Earthly PursuitsEcclesiastes 6:5 highlights the futility of earthly pursuits by comparing them to the rest of an unborn child. This challenges us to evaluate our priorities and focus on eternal values rather than temporary gains.
Understanding True RestThe concept of rest in this verse invites us to seek spiritual rest in Christ, who offers peace beyond the struggles of life. Reflect on
Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus invites us to find rest in Him.
The Value of Life's ExperiencesWhile the verse suggests that not experiencing life's hardships can be seen as rest, it also encourages us to find meaning and purpose in our experiences by aligning them with God's will.
Contentment in God's PlanRecognizing the limitations of human understanding, we are called to trust in God's plan and find contentment in His provision, as Paul describes in
Philippians 4:11-13.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 6:5?
2.How does Ecclesiastes 6:5 illustrate the futility of life without God?
3.What does "never seen the sun" symbolize in Ecclesiastes 6:5?
4.How can Ecclesiastes 6:5 deepen our understanding of contentment in Christ?
5.Compare Ecclesiastes 6:5 with Psalm 39:5 on life's brevity. What insights emerge?
6.How can Ecclesiastes 6:5 encourage us to seek eternal purpose in daily life?
7.What does Ecclesiastes 6:5 imply about the value of life and existence?
8.How does Ecclesiastes 6:5 challenge the belief in life's inherent purpose?
9.Why does Ecclesiastes 6:5 compare an untimely birth to a life without fulfillment?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 6?
11.What defines spiritual emptiness?
12.What does the Bible say about soul sleep?
13.Ecclesiastes 1:5 - The verse suggests a geocentric view of the sun moving around the earth; does this contradict modern astronomy?
14.How is Jesus represented in each book of the Bible?What Does Ecclesiastes 6:5 Mean
The childSolomon is speaking of a stillborn infant, introduced in the previous verses (Ecclesiastes 6:3–4). Scripture treats this little one as a real person—created by God, possessing dignity, yet never taking a breath in the daylight world. Job voiced a similar thought: “Or like a stillborn I would not be, like infants who never see the light” (Job 3:16). That comparison grounds the discussion in the stark reality that even an unborn life matters to God (Psalm 139:13–16) and can be weighed against the life of an adult.
Though neither seeing the sunThe stillborn child “never sees the sun,” never enjoys the warmth and brightness Solomon often celebrates (Ecclesiastes 11:7). In biblical imagery, sunlight pictures the joys and opportunities of earthly life (Psalm 84:11). By stating that the child never experiences even that first sunrise, Solomon highlights how completely the child misses every earthly pleasure, yet the conclusion of the verse will still favor the infant.
Nor knowing anythingBecause life ends in the womb, the child “knows nothing” of human achievement, relationships, success, or sorrow.Ecclesiastes 9:5 notes that “the dead know nothing,” underscoring the absence of conscious participation in this world. The unborn infant’s ignorance is total; nevertheless, Scripture teaches that ignorance of earthly toil can actually spare one from vanity and grief (Job 3:17–19).
Has more restRemarkably, Solomon insists the child “has more rest.” Rest in Scripture speaks of relief from labor and trouble (Hebrews 4:9;Revelation 14:13). The stillborn’s rest is immediate and unbroken—no striving after wind, no frustration with futility, no endless toil under the sun. In contrast, the prosperous man described inEcclesiastes 6:1–2 enjoys material abundance yet cannot “enjoy the good things God gives,” so his soul remains restless despite outward success.
Than that man“That man” refers to the wealthy individual whose prosperity is consumed by strangers and who departs this life unsatisfied (Ecclesiastes 6:2). Possessions without contentment make his days “meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Solomon’s startling conclusion is that a life cut short before it begins is preferable to a long, affluent life devoid of joy in God—echoing his earlier verdict: “Better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 4:3).
summaryEcclesiastes 6:5 confronts us with a counter-intuitive truth: a stillborn child, though never tasting the smallest delight of earthly life, enjoys deeper rest than a prosperous adult who lacks the God-given ability to savor his blessings. The verse underscores the sanctity of unborn life, the emptiness of wealth without contentment, and the reality that true rest comes not from what we possess or experience but from being freed from the curse of toil and vanity.
Verse 5. - It has seen nothing of the world, known nothing of life, its joys and its sufferings, and is speedily forgotten. To" see the sun" is a metaphor for to "live," as
Ecclesiastes 7:11;
Ecclesiastes 11:7;
Job 3:16, and implies activity and work, the contrary of rest.
This hath more rest than the other; literally,
there is rest to this more than to that. The rest that belongs to the abortion is better than that which belongs to the rich man. Others take the clause to say simply, "It is better with this than the other." So the Revised Version margin and Delitzsch, the idea of "rest" being thus generalized, and taken to sights a preferable choice. Septuagint,
Καὶ οὐκἔγνω ἀναπαύσεις τούτῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦτον, "And hath not known rest for this more than that " - which reproduces the difficulty of the Hebrew; Vulgate,
Neque cognovit distantiam boni et malt, which is a paraphrase unsupported by the present accentuation of the text. Rest, in the conception of an Oriental, is the most desirable or' all things; compared with the busy, careworn life of the rich man, whose very moments of leisure and sleep are troubled and disturbed, the dreamless nothingness of the still-born child is happiness. This may be a rhetorical exaggeration, but we have its parallel in Job's lamentable cry in
Ecclesiastes 3. when he "cursed his day."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
[A stillborn child]לָזֶ֖ה(lā·zeh)Preposition-l | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thathas more restנַ֥חַת(na·ḥaṯ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5183:A descent, imposition, unfavorable, favorable, restfulnessthan he—מִזֶּֽה׃(miz·zeh)Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatthoughגַּם־(gam-)Conjunction
Strong's 1571:Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, andneverלֹא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noseeingרָאָ֖ה(rā·’āh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200:To seethe sunשֶׁ֥מֶשׁ(še·meš)Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121:The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlementorוְלֹ֣א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noknowing anything—יָדָ֑ע(yā·ḏā‘)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045:To know
Links
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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 6:5 Moreover it has not seen the sun (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) 
