Ecclesiastes 6:3

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 25
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יוֹלִ֣יד beget H3205
יוֹלִ֣יד beget
Strong's: H3205
Word #: 2 of 25
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
אִ֣ישׁ If a man H376
אִ֣ישׁ If a man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 3 of 25
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 an hundred H3967
מֵאָ֡ה an hundred
Strong's: H3967
Word #: 4 of 25
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
שָׁנָ֗יו of his years H8141
שָׁנָ֗יו of his years
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 5 of 25
a year (as a revolution of time)
וְרַ֣ב׀ be many H7227
וְרַ֣ב׀ be many
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 6 of 25
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
יִֽחְיֶ֜ה children and live H2421
יִֽחְיֶ֜ה children and live
Strong's: H2421
Word #: 7 of 25
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
וְרַ֣ב׀ be many H7227
וְרַ֣ב׀ be many
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 8 of 25
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
שֶׁיִּהְי֣וּ H1961
שֶׁיִּהְי֣וּ
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 9 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יְמֵֽי so that the days H3117
יְמֵֽי so that the days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 10 of 25
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
שָׁנָ֗יו of his years H8141
שָׁנָ֗יו of his years
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 11 of 25
a year (as a revolution of time)
וְנַפְשׁוֹ֙ and his soul H5315
וְנַפְשׁוֹ֙ and his soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 12 of 25
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 13 of 25
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׂבַּ֣ע be not filled H7646
תִשְׂבַּ֣ע be not filled
Strong's: H7646
Word #: 14 of 25
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 15 of 25
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
ט֥וֹב is better H2896
ט֥וֹב is better
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 16 of 25
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
וְגַם H1571
וְגַם
Strong's: H1571
Word #: 17 of 25
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
קְבוּרָ֖ה and also that he have no burial H6900
קְבוּרָ֖ה and also that he have no burial
Strong's: H6900
Word #: 18 of 25
sepulture; (concretely) a sepulcher
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 19 of 25
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָ֣יְתָה H1961
הָ֣יְתָה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 20 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לּ֑וֹ H0
לּ֑וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 21 of 25
אָמַ֕רְתִּי I say H559
אָמַ֕רְתִּי I say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 22 of 25
to say (used with great latitude)
ט֥וֹב is better H2896
ט֥וֹב is better
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 23 of 25
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
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ H4480
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 24 of 25
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַנָּֽפֶל׃ that an untimely birth H5309
הַנָּֽפֶל׃ that an untimely birth
Strong's: H5309
Word #: 25 of 25
something fallen, i.e., an abortion

Analysis & Commentary

If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years—the Preacher constructs an extreme hypothetical representing maximum fertility and longevity, both considered covenant blessings (Deuteronomy 28:4, 11). And his soul be not filled with good (וְנַפְשׁוֹ לֹא־תִשְׂבַּע מִן־הַטּוֹבָה, ve-nafsho lo-tisba min-hatovah)—despite external blessings, inner satisfaction remains absent. And also that he have no burial—dying without proper burial constituted profound disgrace in ancient culture, suggesting dying unmourned or in judgment (Jeremiah 22:18-19).

The shocking conclusion: I say, that an untimely birth is better than he (נֵפֶל, nefel—a stillborn or miscarried child). A stillborn never experiences life's disappointments, labors without satisfaction, or accumulates blessings it cannot enjoy. This isn't recommending death over life but emphasizing how tragic existence becomes when divorced from the capacity to enjoy God's gifts. It echoes Job's lament (Job 3:11-16) and anticipates Jesus's warning about gaining the world while forfeiting the soul (Mark 8:36).

Historical Context

Ancient cultures highly valued large families and long life as signs of divine blessing. Abraham's promise included numerous descendants (Genesis 15:5), and patriarchal narratives emphasize fertility as covenant reward. Proper burial demonstrated respect, family continuity, and hope for afterlife—Jacob insisted on burial in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-32), and Joseph's bones were carried from Egypt (Exodus 13:19). The Preacher's radical claim that a stillborn is better off than a man with maximum blessings who cannot enjoy them would have shocked ancient hearers, forcing reconsideration of what truly constitutes blessing. Post-exilic Judaism, having experienced national disaster despite covenant status, resonated with this questioning of conventional wisdom about blessing.

Questions for Reflection