Ecclesiastes 6:3
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.
Ecclesiastes 6:3 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from Ecclesiastes 6:3 speaks to the idea that a life filled with emptiness and sorrow is worse than never being born at all. It reflects on the notion that it is better to have never experienced the joys and sorrows of life if one's existence is ultimately unfulfilling. The mention of having many children and living a long life underscores that material wealth and longevity are not synonymous with a meaningful and fulfilling life. The verse suggests that a life devoid of goodness and lacking a proper burial is a life not worth living, drawing a stark comparison to an untimely birth, which is seen as preferable in these circumstances. This verse encourages reflection on the quality of one's life rather than just its length or material success, highlighting the importance of living with purpose, meaning, and goodness.
Theological Overview
One theological interpretation of Ecclesiastes 6:3 focuses on the idea of the emptiness of a life without true fulfillment. The verse suggests that even if a person has many children and a long life, if their soul is not filled with good, then their life is ultimately meaningless. This can be seen as a reminder that material possessions and worldly success are not sufficient for true happiness and fulfillment. By contrast, the reference to an untimely birth being better than such a life highlights the idea that a short existence with no attachment to the pains and disappointments of life may be preferable to a long life devoid of true joy and contentment.
Ecclesiastes 6:3 in other translations
American Standard Version
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:
World English Bible
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:
Douay-Rheims
If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he.
Geneva Bible (1599)
If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, and his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he.