Ecclesiastes 6 7

Ecclesiastes 6:7 kjv

All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 nkjv

All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 niv

Everyone's toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 esv

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 nlt

All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough.

Ecclesiastes 6 verses

Ecclesiastes 6 7 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 6:7 states that all the arduous labor of humanity is directed towards fulfilling physical needs and desires, yet this ceaseless striving fails to bring genuine or lasting inner satisfaction. It highlights the inherent futility and unsatisfying nature of human effort when it is solely focused on the acquisition and consumption of worldly provisions.

Ecclesiastes 6 7 Context

Ecclesiastes 6:7 fits squarely within Qoheleth's larger discourse on the vanity (Hebrew: hevel) of life "under the sun"—human existence separate from divine perspective or direct intervention. Chapters 5 and 6 specifically focus on the futility and limitations of wealth, status, and material possessions as sources of enduring happiness or meaning. Qoheleth, through his extensive observations, critiques the widespread human tendency to pursue satisfaction through endless accumulation and consumption, demonstrating that such pursuits invariably lead to emptiness and disappointment. This verse summarizes a key observation about human insatiability despite their labor. It serves as an indirect polemic against the contemporary and timeless belief that material prosperity inherently leads to contentment or that abundant provisions are the ultimate goal of life.

Ecclesiastes 6 7 Word analysis

• All the toil (כָּל־עָמָל֙ kol-’āmāl):

  • Kol: "all," indicating universality.
  • ‘Amal: signifies "labor," "toil," "painful effort," "wearisome trouble," or "distress." This word carries connotations of labor that is burdensome, strenuous, and often unrewarding or fruitless. It recalls the toil humanity was cursed with after the fall in Gen 3:17-19. It speaks to the effort, the sweat, the mental and physical strain involved in working.

• of man (הָאָדָ֔ם hā’āḏām):

  • Ha-’āḏām: "the man," used generically for humanity or mankind, indicating this observation is universal for all people.

• is for his mouth (לְפִיה֑וּ lə·p̄î·hū):

  • Lə: "for," "to."
  • Pî: "mouth." This represents the channel for consumption, sustenance, and gratification of physical appetites. It can be extended to refer to all forms of consumption, including eating, drinking, and, by extension, acquiring all necessities and desires that nourish the body or satiate immediate physical cravings. It signifies the primary immediate object of human labor.

• yet his appetite (וְהַנֶּ֣פֶשׁ wə·han·ne·p̄eš):

  • Wə: "and" or "yet," indicating a contrast.
  • Ha-nephesh: often translated as "soul," "life," "person," or "self." In this context, nephesh refers more specifically to an individual's "appetite," "desire," "longing," "craving," or the inner emotional/physical need that drives one to seek satisfaction. It is the seat of yearning and longing, distinguishing from merely physical consumption.

• is not satisfied (לֹֽא תִמָּלֵא֙ lō’ timmālə’):

  • Lō’: "not," a strong negation.
  • Timmālə’: "is filled," "is satisfied," "is made full." It's a verb often used for filling physical containers or for complete emotional satisfaction. The negation here emphasizes the perpetual lack of fullness, no matter how much is acquired or consumed.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "All the toil of man is for his mouth": This phrase describes the inherent human condition of striving to provide for oneself and to satisfy physical desires. It suggests a life consumed by the pursuit of consumption, food, comfort, and material gain.
  • "yet his appetite is not satisfied": This contrasting phrase exposes the inherent deficiency of such a focus. Despite all effort directed towards consumption, the inner craving or desire (nephesh) remains unfulfilled. This highlights a fundamental flaw in seeking ultimate satisfaction in material provision, suggesting an insatiable longing that external things cannot quench. It reflects a core observation of Qoheleth: worldly endeavors do not bring lasting contentment.

Ecclesiastes 6 7 Bonus section

This verse subtly challenges any worldview that proposes material prosperity as the ultimate goal or indicator of a blessed life. It hints at the divine design of human nature to yearn for more than temporal provisions, suggesting an intrinsic longing for transcendence that only God can fulfill. The insatiability described here is a consequence of the Fall, a perversion of the legitimate human desire for goodness into an endless, self-consuming hunger for created things. It sets the stage for a biblical understanding of true contentment, which shifts from material accumulation to a right relationship with the Creator and appreciation of His gracious provision and spiritual sustenance.

Ecclesiastes 6 7 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 6:7 encapsulates a central lament of Qoheleth regarding the human condition: a relentless pursuit of fulfillment through worldly labor that paradoxically leads to perpetual dissatisfaction. Despite the enormous energy expended by humanity in earning, consuming, and accumulating—all for the "mouth," signifying physical needs and material desires—the underlying craving, the "appetite" of the nephesh, remains eternally empty. This verse is not about God's provision (which is often presented as sufficient, as in Matt 6:25-34), but about the human propensity towards insatiable desires that go beyond need and delve into endless want. It underscores the profound truth that external possessions and pleasures, however abundant, cannot fill an internal spiritual void. This deep-seated discontent points towards humanity's spiritual hunger, which can only be truly satiated by something beyond the physical realm, echoing themes found in Jesus's teaching about true bread and living water. For instance, a person may spend their life accumulating wealth, yet constantly fear losing it or compare themselves to others who have more, never finding peace. Or someone constantly seeking the next big entertainment experience, only to find the thrill fleeting and always needing something new to feel momentarily alive.