Ecclesiastes 6:3

Authorized King James 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.

Word-by-Word Analysis

אִם

H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

יוֹלִ֣יד

H3205

beget

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

אִ֣ישׁ

H376

If a man

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מֵאָ֡ה

H3967

an hundred

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

שָׁנָ֗יו

H8141

of his years

a year (as a revolution of time)

וְרַ֣ב׀

H7227

be many

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

יִֽחְיֶ֜ה

H2421

children and live

to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

וְרַ֣ב׀

H7227

be many

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

שֶׁיִּהְי֣וּ

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

#10

יְמֵֽי

H3117

so that the days

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

#11

שָׁנָ֗יו

H8141

of his years

a year (as a revolution of time)

#12

וְנַפְשׁוֹ֙

H5315

and his soul

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

#13

לֹא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#14

תִשְׂבַּ֣ע

H7646

be not filled

to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)

#15

מִן

H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

#16

ט֥וֹב

H2896

is better

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

#17

וְגַם

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

#18

קְבוּרָ֖ה

H6900

and also that he have no burial

sepulture; (concretely) a sepulcher

#19

לֹא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#20

הָ֣יְתָה

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

#21

לּ֑וֹ

#22

אָמַ֕רְתִּי

H559

I say

to say (used with great latitude)

#23

ט֥וֹב

H2896

is better

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

#24

מִמֶּ֖נּוּ

H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

#25

הַנָּֽפֶל׃

H5309

that an untimely birth

something fallen, i.e., an abortion

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ecclesiastes Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

How might the original audience's understanding of divine revelation differ from modern interpretations, and what bridges can be built between ancient meaning and contemporary application?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?

Related Resources

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Topics

Wisdom