Ecclesiastes 6:3–5
¶ 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.
¶ If a man beget an hundred children, and liue many yeeres, so that the dayes of his yeeres bee many: and his soule be not filled with good, and also that he haue no buriall, I say, that an vntimely birth is better then he.
For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
For he commeth in with vanitie, and departeth in darkenesse, and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
Moreouer hee hath not seene the Sunne, nor knowen any thing: this hath more rest then the other.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
PASSAGE SELECTION
Build from either side
Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.
SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
Cross References
10 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 3
- 2 Kings 9:35Rank 2 from verse 3
- Ecclesiastes 4:3Rank 3 from verse 3
- Jeremiah 22:19Rank 4 from verse 3
- Genesis 47:9Rank 5 from verse 3
9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
9And Iacob said vnto Pharaoh, *The dayes of the yeeres of my pilgrimage are an hundred & thirtie yeres: few and euill haue the dayes of the yeeres of my life bene, and haue not attained vnto the dayes of the yeeres of the life of my fathers, in the dayes of their pilgrimage.
- Isaiah 14:19–20Rank 6 from verse 3
19But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.
20Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
19But thou art cast out of thy graue, like an abominable branch: and as the raiment of those that are slaine, thrust through with a sword, that goe downe to the stones of the pit, as a carkeis troden vnder feete.
20*Thou shalt not be ioyned with them in buriall, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slaine thy people: the seede of euill doers shall neuer be renowmed.
- 1 Chronicles 28:5Rank 7 from verse 3
5And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
5*And of all my sonnes (for the LORD hath giuen me many sonnes) hee hath chosen Solomon my sonne, to sit vpon the throne of the kingdome of the LORD ouer Israel.
- 1 Samuel 2:20–21Rank 8 from verse 3
20¶ And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home.
21And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
20¶ And Eli blessed Elkanah, and his wife, and said, The LORD giue thee seed of this woman, for the ‖loane which is lent to the LORD. And they went vnto their owne home.
21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that shee conceiued, and bare three sonnes, and two daughters: and the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 11:21Rank 9 from verse 3
21And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
21And Rehoboam loued Maacah the daughter of Absalom, aboue all his wiues and his concubines: for he tooke eighteene wiues, and threescore concubines, and begate twentie and eight sonnes, and threescore daughters.
- 2 Kings 10:1Rank 10 from verse 3
1AND Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,
1¶ And Ahab had seuentie sonnes in Samaria: and Iehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria vnto the rulers of Iezreel, to the Elders, and to †them that brought vp Ahabs children, saying,
- Ecclesiastes 5:17–19Rank 11 from verse 3
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
17All his dayes also hee eateth in darkenesse, and he hath much sorrowe, and wrath with his sicknesse.
18¶ *††Behold that which I haue seene: It is good and comely for one to eate and to drinke, and to enioy the good of all his labour that he taketh vnder the sunne, all the dayes of his life, which God giueth him: for it is his portion.
19Euery man also to whom God hath giuen riches and wealth, and hath giuen him power to eate thereof, and to take his portion, and to reioyce in his labour; th is is the gift of God.
- Esther 5:11Rank 12 from verse 3
11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had aduanced him aboue the Princes, and seruants of the king.
- Esther 7:10Rank 13 from verse 3
- Esther 9:14–15Rank 14 from verse 3
14And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.
15For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
14And the king commanded it so to be done; and the decree was giuen at Shushan, and they hanged Hamans ten sonnes.
15For the Iewes that were in Shushan, gathered themselues together on the fourteenth day also of the moneth Adar, and slewe three hundred men at Shushan: but on the pray they laid not their hand.
- Genesis 33:5Rank 15 from verse 3
5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
5And he lift vp his eyes, and sawe the women, and the children, and said, who are those †with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously giuen thy seruant.
- Jeremiah 36:30Rank 16 from verse 3
30Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
30*Therefore thus saith the LORD of Iehoiakim king of Iudah; He shall haue none to sit vpon the throne of Dauid, and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heate, and in the night to the frost.
- Jeremiah 8:2Rank 17 from verse 3
2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
2And they shall spread them before the Sunne, and the Moone, and all the hoste of heauen whom they haue loued, and whom they haue serued, and after whom they haue walked, and whom they haue sought, and whom they haue worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be for doung, vpon the face of the earth.
- Matthew 26:24Rank 18 from verse 3
24The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
24The sonne of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe vnto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed: It had bin good for that man, if hee had not bene borne.
- Proverbs 17:6Rank 19 from verse 3
- Psalms 127:4–5Rank 20 from verse 3
4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
4As arrowes are in the hand of a mightie man: so are children of the youth.
5†‖Happie is the man that hath his quiuer full of them, they shall not be ashamed: but they shall speake with the enemies in the gate.
- Psalms 58:8Rank 21 from verse 3
From verse 4
- Psalms 109:13Rank 1 from verse 4
From verse 5
- Job 3:10–13Rank 2 from verse 5
10Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
10Because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe, nor hid sorrowe from mine eyes.
11Why died I not from the wombe? why did I not giue vp the ghost when I came out of the bellie?
12Why did the knees preuent mee? or why the breasts, that I should sucke?
13For now should I haue lien still and beene quiet, I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest,
- Psalms 58:8Rank 3 from verse 5
- Psalms 90:7–9Rank 4 from verse 5
7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
7For we are consumed by thine anger: and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee: our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance.
9†‖For all our dayes are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our yeeres as a tale that is told.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
Open a word for its full definition and concordance.
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 6:3
1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
For a father, to procreate or father offspring.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: As a verb, to have or continue in life; to remain alive, be restored to life, or not die. Sense 2: To dwell, abide, or continue in a place, state, relation, or manner of life. Sense 3: To subsist or be sustained by or upon what is named. Sense 4: As an adjective, alive rather than dead; or containing fire and not extinguished.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Periods of twelve months.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of fill. Sense 1: To make full or occupy capacity. Sense 2: To satisfy. Sense 3: To occupy. Sense 4: To complete what is lacking.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The act of placing the dead in a grave; interment.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Happening before the usual time.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: The act or process of coming into life or bringing forth. Sense 2: That which is born; offspring. Sense 3: Origin, lineage, or one's place or condition as determined by birth.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 6:4
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Emptiness, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, unreliability, or transience.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Leaves, goes away, or turns aside.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Had a covering placed or spread over; hidden, concealed, enclosed, overlaid, clothed, sheltered, or occupied over the surface or extent of something.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 6:5
Besides, further, additionally, or what is more, introducing another statement, fact, command, reason, or continuation.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The great light that rules the day and gives light and heat.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Recognized, understood, perceived, acknowledged, or made evident.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To cease from labour or motion, lie still, settle, remain, or rely; also repose, peace, security, or an abiding place. Sense 2: The remaining persons or things after a part is distinguished.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
READ BEFORE AND AFTER
Surrounding Verses
Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.
2A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
2A man to whom God hath giuen riches, wealth and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that he desireth, yet God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a stranger eateth it: Th is is vanitie, and it is an euill disease.
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.
3¶ If a man beget an hundred children, and liue many yeeres, so that the dayes of his yeeres bee many: and his soule be not filled with good, and also that he haue no buriall, I say, that an vntimely birth is better then he.
Selected passage4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
4For he commeth in with vanitie, and departeth in darkenesse, and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.
Selected passage5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
5Moreouer hee hath not seene the Sunne, nor knowen any thing: this hath more rest then the other.
Selected passage6¶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
6¶ Yea though he liue a thousand yeeres twice told, yet hath he seene no good: Doe not all goe to one place?