Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Yes, better off than both of them is the person who has never been born, who has never seen the evil things that happen in this world.
The writer is saying that sometimes life contains so much suffering and injustice that it might seem better to have never existed at all.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon or a wise teacher in ancient Israel during a time of social inequalities and oppression, reflecting on the futility of human endeavors under the sun. In chapter 4, the author observes the harsh realities of envy, toil, and injustice, leading to the extreme view that those not yet born are better off because they avoid witnessing evil. This fits into the broader biblical theme of wrestling with life's meaning in a fallen world.
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