Ecclesiastes, Chapter 6 - The Futility of Wealth and the Transience of Life

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

Imagine a man with a hundred children—a number that seems astronomical. Biblical figures like Rehoboam and Ahab came close, with families sprawling across generations. In those days, having a large brood was seen as a badge of honor and prosperity. A quiver full of children, as the Psalms poetically put it, was the ultimate blessing.

Now, picture this man living a long, satisfying life. Let’s say he reaches the ripe old age of seventy, or even stretches his years as far as Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible who lived for nearly a millennium.

But there's a twist: despite his abundance of years and offspring, he finds no joy. His soul remains perpetually restless, lacking in both earthly pleasures and spiritual fulfillment. His wealth and longevity provide no comfort, only a constant desire for more.

And then comes a stark ending—he doesn't even receive a proper burial. Imagine figures like Jezebel or Jehoiakim, whose deaths were neither honored nor mourned; their bodies discarded unceremoniously. Whether through misfortune, neglect, or complete disregard from those who survive them, their end is marked by a lack of dignity.

In such a scenario, the text argues that an untimely birth—a miscarriage, in other words—might be a kinder fate. Better never to have known life at all than to live in such misery and end in such disgrace.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In simpler terms, this passage explores the idea that some lives, whether of the unborn or the greedy, might seem futile or filled with vanity. The unborn enter the world seemingly for nothing, and similarly, a wealthy, greedy person lives in vain, parading through life meaninglessly. Both depart into obscurity, buried without fanfare. However, while the unborn vanish without a trace or a name, they aren't cursed or spoken of negatively. In contrast, the name of a greedy person is often remembered with disdain. This comparison suggests that, in some ways, the unborn have an advantage—they leave without the blemish of a tarnished reputation.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In a discourse that's heavy with metaphor, John Gills delves into the poignant comparison between an unborn child and a person entrenched in the material pursuits of life. He begins by portraying the unborn, who has "not seen the sun," to underscore that this entity has not experienced the light, joy, or warmth that the sun can offer. Essentially, being untouched by the world's joys or sorrows, the unborn remains indifferent to these earthly experiences.

Gills further illuminates this idea through references to ancient texts, explaining that such an entity does not know the difference between good and evil, has no knowledge or experience of anything, and especially has not felt the sun's warmth or the world's troubles. In a rather sobering twist, he suggests that this state of not experiencing any worldly distress affords the unborn more peace than a life spent driven by greed.

In essence, Gills posits that an unborn soul, untouched by the toils and tribulations of life, often experiences more tranquility than those burdened by the ceaseless pursuit of wealth and material gains.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the grand scheme of daily life, does a wise person truly have an edge over a fool when it comes to finding pleasure in the simple joys of eating and drinking? Both the wise and the foolish revel in these basic human experiences equally. The satisfaction one gets from indulging in a good meal or a drink doesn't differ whether one is known for their wisdom or not.

And what about the poor person who knows how to navigate life effectively? Does he lack anything compared to the rich? If a poor man is diligent and works hard to provide for himself and his family, he tastes the same sweetness of life as any wealthy person. Similarly, does a knowledgeable poor man enjoy more than a poor foolish man if both can manage to put food on their tables and clothes on their backs? At the end of the day, having the essentials and living comfortably is a common denominator, regardless of one’s wisdom or wealth.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the face of countless pursuits—be it wisdom, wealth, pleasure, or power—one truth remains: chasing these things only amplifies life's inherent emptiness. That's the central message from the biblical scholar John Gill, reflecting on the nature of human existence. We're all essentially fleeting beings, and accumulating more stuff just makes our lives feel even more hollow.

Gill argues that none of these pursuits bring lasting benefit. Instead of enriching our lives, they often make us more superficial and less fulfilled. Even when we pour out words of complaint or discontent about our lot in life, they merely add to our burden, increasing our sense of guilt and dissatisfaction.

Ultimately, Gill suggests that our incessant striving and grumbling do little to improve our situation or bring us true happiness, especially when facing the inevitability of death. Instead of finding meaning in accumulation and complaint, perhaps we should be searching for a deeper, more lasting sense of purpose.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the grand tapestry of life, who truly knows what’s best for us? Whether you find yourself in opulence or modesty, educated or uneducated, life’s seemingly pleasing paths often come with an abundance of vanity, pitfalls, and possible ruin. The nature of what's truly beneficial is puzzling, suggesting perhaps the wisest course is to embrace contentment and enjoy what we have to its fullest, using it for noble purposes.

Ancient wisdom, like that from the Targum, hints at dedicating oneself to higher learning, like studying law, as a guiding principle for life. Similarly, the Midrash emphasizes the ephemeral and fleeting nature of our existence, likening it to a shadow or a bird in flight – here one moment and gone the next. Our lives, composed of quickly passing days rather than extensive years, underscore this transience.

Given our short span on earth, determining the best course of action is challenging, exacerbated by our ignorance of future outcomes. After all, no one can predict what becomes of our legacy, wealth, or material accumulation once we pass. Thus, we’re left pondering whether we leave behind good, or mere remnants of fleeting pursuits.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

Imagine a man with a hundred children—a number that seems astronomical. Biblical figures like Rehoboam and Ahab came close, with families sprawling across generations. In those days, having a large brood was seen as a badge of honor and prosperity. A quiver full of children, as the Psalms poetically put it, was the ultimate blessing.

Now, picture this man living a long, satisfying life. Let’s say he reaches the ripe old age of seventy, or even stretches his years as far as Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible who lived for nearly a millennium.

But there's a twist: despite his abundance of years and offspring, he finds no joy. His soul remains perpetually restless, lacking in both earthly pleasures and spiritual fulfillment. His wealth and longevity provide no comfort, only a constant desire for more.

And then comes a stark ending—he doesn't even receive a proper burial. Imagine figures like Jezebel or Jehoiakim, whose deaths were neither honored nor mourned; their bodies discarded unceremoniously. Whether through misfortune, neglect, or complete disregard from those who survive them, their end is marked by a lack of dignity.

In such a scenario, the text argues that an untimely birth—a miscarriage, in other words—might be a kinder fate. Better never to have known life at all than to live in such misery and end in such disgrace.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In simpler terms, this passage explores the idea that some lives, whether of the unborn or the greedy, might seem futile or filled with vanity. The unborn enter the world seemingly for nothing, and similarly, a wealthy, greedy person lives in vain, parading through life meaninglessly. Both depart into obscurity, buried without fanfare. However, while the unborn vanish without a trace or a name, they aren't cursed or spoken of negatively. In contrast, the name of a greedy person is often remembered with disdain. This comparison suggests that, in some ways, the unborn have an advantage—they leave without the blemish of a tarnished reputation.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In a discourse that's heavy with metaphor, John Gills delves into the poignant comparison between an unborn child and a person entrenched in the material pursuits of life. He begins by portraying the unborn, who has "not seen the sun," to underscore that this entity has not experienced the light, joy, or warmth that the sun can offer. Essentially, being untouched by the world's joys or sorrows, the unborn remains indifferent to these earthly experiences.

Gills further illuminates this idea through references to ancient texts, explaining that such an entity does not know the difference between good and evil, has no knowledge or experience of anything, and especially has not felt the sun's warmth or the world's troubles. In a rather sobering twist, he suggests that this state of not experiencing any worldly distress affords the unborn more peace than a life spent driven by greed.

In essence, Gills posits that an unborn soul, untouched by the toils and tribulations of life, often experiences more tranquility than those burdened by the ceaseless pursuit of wealth and material gains.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the grand scheme of daily life, does a wise person truly have an edge over a fool when it comes to finding pleasure in the simple joys of eating and drinking? Both the wise and the foolish revel in these basic human experiences equally. The satisfaction one gets from indulging in a good meal or a drink doesn't differ whether one is known for their wisdom or not.

And what about the poor person who knows how to navigate life effectively? Does he lack anything compared to the rich? If a poor man is diligent and works hard to provide for himself and his family, he tastes the same sweetness of life as any wealthy person. Similarly, does a knowledgeable poor man enjoy more than a poor foolish man if both can manage to put food on their tables and clothes on their backs? At the end of the day, having the essentials and living comfortably is a common denominator, regardless of one’s wisdom or wealth.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the face of countless pursuits—be it wisdom, wealth, pleasure, or power—one truth remains: chasing these things only amplifies life's inherent emptiness. That's the central message from the biblical scholar John Gill, reflecting on the nature of human existence. We're all essentially fleeting beings, and accumulating more stuff just makes our lives feel even more hollow.

Gill argues that none of these pursuits bring lasting benefit. Instead of enriching our lives, they often make us more superficial and less fulfilled. Even when we pour out words of complaint or discontent about our lot in life, they merely add to our burden, increasing our sense of guilt and dissatisfaction.

Ultimately, Gill suggests that our incessant striving and grumbling do little to improve our situation or bring us true happiness, especially when facing the inevitability of death. Instead of finding meaning in accumulation and complaint, perhaps we should be searching for a deeper, more lasting sense of purpose.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Paraphrased Commentary

By John Gills

In the grand tapestry of life, who truly knows what’s best for us? Whether you find yourself in opulence or modesty, educated or uneducated, life’s seemingly pleasing paths often come with an abundance of vanity, pitfalls, and possible ruin. The nature of what's truly beneficial is puzzling, suggesting perhaps the wisest course is to embrace contentment and enjoy what we have to its fullest, using it for noble purposes.

Ancient wisdom, like that from the Targum, hints at dedicating oneself to higher learning, like studying law, as a guiding principle for life. Similarly, the Midrash emphasizes the ephemeral and fleeting nature of our existence, likening it to a shadow or a bird in flight – here one moment and gone the next. Our lives, composed of quickly passing days rather than extensive years, underscore this transience.

Given our short span on earth, determining the best course of action is challenging, exacerbated by our ignorance of future outcomes. After all, no one can predict what becomes of our legacy, wealth, or material accumulation once we pass. Thus, we’re left pondering whether we leave behind good, or mere remnants of fleeting pursuits.

Read more: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible