KJV ORIGINAL
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Furthermore, he has never seen the sun or experienced anything at all—yet he has more peace than the other person.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is saying that someone who was never born has more peace than someone who lives a troubled, dissatisfied life.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon is comparing a stillborn child to a person who lives a long but meaningless life filled with wealth they cannot enjoy. In ancient times, stillbirth was tragically common, and people understood death as a kind of rest from life's struggles. This verse is part of Solomon's broader reflection on the vanity and frustration that can characterize human existence.
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