Ecclesiastes 6:9 kjv
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 nkjv
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 niv
Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 esv
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 nlt
Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless ? like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 27:20 | Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of man never satisfied. | Human desires are insatiable. |
| 1 Tim 6:6-8 | But godliness with contentment is great gain... | True gain comes from contentment. |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have... | Commandment for contentment, mirroring the verse's wisdom. |
| Phil 4:11-12 | Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. | Paul's learned contentment in various circumstances. |
| Lk 12:15 | Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. | Life's true worth isn't in what's desired or amassed. |
| Prov 23:4-5 | Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist... | Wealth sought endlessly takes flight like an eagle. |
| Jas 1:14-15 | But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire...brings forth death. | Unchecked desire leads to destructive outcomes. |
| 1 Jn 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes...—is not from the Father but from the world. | Worldly desires, including what the eye lusts for, are fleeting and not from God. |
| Ecc 1:2 | "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." | Central theme of vanity (hebel) throughout Ecclesiastes. |
| Ecc 1:14 | I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. | Repeats the "striving after wind" theme. |
| Ecc 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind... | Qoheleth's own conclusion about all his achievements. |
| Ecc 4:4 | Then I saw that all toil and all achievement come from one person’s envy of another. This too is vanity and a striving after wind. | The futility of ambition driven by rivalry. |
| Ecc 5:10 | He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. | Direct link between desire for wealth and lack of satisfaction. |
| Ps 39:6 | Surely a man walks as a mere phantom; surely they rush about in vain; he heaps up riches and does not know who will gather them. | Human efforts often empty and transient. |
| Isa 49:4 | But I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity...' | Echoes the sense of futile exertion. |
| Hab 2:13 | Is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples toil for what fires will consume and nations exhaust themselves for nothing? | Human toil without divine purpose is empty. |
| Mt 5:28 | But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. | The 'eyes' can be sources of covetous and unfulfilled desires. |
| Deut 28:65 | And among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot... | Lack of rest, symbolizing perpetual wandering and unrest. |
| Prov 30:15-16 | The leech has two daughters: "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied; four that never say, "Enough": Sheol... the earth never satisfied with water... the eye... | Insatiable appetite personified. |
| John 6:27 | Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life... | Spiritual counsel against fleeting, perishing desires. |
| Mic 2:2 | They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house... | The dangerous outcome of unbridled desire and covetousness. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. | Covetousness (restless desire) linked to idolatry and earthly passions. |
Ecclesiastes 6 verses
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Meaning
Ecclesiastes 6:9 declares that it is preferable to find contentment in what one presently perceives and possesses rather than relentlessly pursuing an endless chain of desires and ambitions. The verse concludes by labeling such insatiable pursuit as inherently futile and ultimately meaningless, akin to grasping at the wind. It advocates for accepting the tangible present over succumbing to restless longing.
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Context
Ecclesiastes chapter 6, preceding this verse, elaborates on the frustration and futility of accumulating wealth without the ability to enjoy it. The Preacher laments situations where one possesses vast riches and children, yet cannot partake of their prosperity, or another consumes their wealth. He concludes that a stillborn child is "better" than such an existence. The entire chapter grapples with the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the limits of human control over happiness, particularly when prosperity itself does not guarantee satisfaction. Verse 9 then acts as a concluding summary statement for this section, offering a piece of practical wisdom on how one might find a modicum of peace in a world "under the sun" characterized by vanity and striving. It contrasts immediate, present gratification (even if simple) with the ceaseless, unquenchable quest for more that epitomizes the "vanity" of life's pursuits.
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Word analysis
- Better: The Hebrew word is ṭōv (טוֹב), meaning "good," "pleasant," or "advantageous." This term is frequently used in Ecclesiastes to make comparative judgments, guiding the reader towards a preferred, albeit limited, wisdom under the sun.
- is the sight: From the Hebrew mar'eh (מַרְאֶה), referring to "appearance," "sight," or "what is visible." It emphasizes the tangible, present, and accessible reality, what one can genuinely experience with their senses right now.
- of the eyes: ‘ayin (עַיִן), the physical organs of sight. Combined with mar'eh, it reinforces the idea of immediate perception and concrete reality. This phrase contrasts what is genuinely perceived and accessible against restless, elusive longings.
- than the wandering: From the Hebrew root halak (הָלַךְ), meaning "to walk" or "go," here forming hªleḵet (הֲלֶכֶת), indicating "walking," "going," or metaphorically, "roving" or "roaming." It depicts ceaseless movement, a restless, unceasing pursuit that has no ultimate destination or satisfaction.
- of the appetite: The Hebrew word nep̄eš (נֶפֶשׁ) typically means "soul," "life," "person," or "being." In this context, it often refers to the core inner being, embodying its desires, longings, and cravings. Here, it denotes an insatiable desire or endless craving that can never be truly fulfilled.
- this also: A recurring phrase in Ecclesiastes, referring back to the previous observation. It acts as a transitional marker to pronounce the Preacher's judgment on the just-stated point.
- is vanity: heḇel (הֶבֶל). This core word of Ecclesiastes means "breath," "vapor," "futility," "meaningless," or "absurdity." It signifies that the object or activity described is ultimately transient, unsubstantial, and leads to emptiness.
- and a striving after wind: re'ut ruach (רְעוּת רוּחַ), literally "a shepherding of wind" or "feeding on wind," often translated as "chasing after wind," "grasping at wind," or "vexation of spirit." It graphically portrays a futile, unattainable, and utterly pointless endeavor, emphasizing the impossibility of gaining lasting satisfaction from such pursuits.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Better is the sight of the eyes": This phrase encourages appreciating and being content with what one has, what is visible and within reach. It advocates for realistic, present-focused contentment.
- "than the wandering of the appetite": This describes the insatiable nature of human desire. "Wandering" emphasizes the restlessness and lack of satisfaction inherent in constant craving, while "appetite" points to the inner, almost physiological, urge for more that can never be fully satisfied.
- "this also is vanity and a striving after wind": This declares the ultimate emptiness and futility of the boundless pursuit driven by unchecked desires. It summarizes Qoheleth's primary philosophical conclusion about such earthly endeavors: they lead to nothing substantial or enduring.
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Bonus section
The advice in Ecclesiastes 6:9, like much of Qoheleth's wisdom, offers a pragmatic approach to life's challenges from a human-centered perspective "under the sun." While it champions contentment over insatiable desire, it ultimately still qualifies this positive wisdom with the pervading theme of hebel ("vanity"). This underscores a key tension in Ecclesiastes: even the best human wisdom, devoid of an explicit connection to God's ultimate purpose, cannot fully escape the pervasive sense of futility in a fallen world. The Preacher acknowledges that adopting a grateful, present-focused outlook is better, but even this 'better' choice still exists within a framework of overarching meaninglessness for those who pursue life's goods only on earth and not according to divine design.
Ecclesiastes 6 9 Commentary
Ecclesiastes 6:9 serves as a concise summary of Qoheleth's wisdom concerning human ambition and desire "under the sun." The core message champions practical contentment with the present reality over the endless, unfulfilling quest for what one does not possess. The Preacher contrasts two modes of living: one where satisfaction is found in the immediate, tangible aspects of life ("sight of the eyes"), and another characterized by perpetual dissatisfaction driven by restless inner longings ("wandering of the appetite"). The very nature of "appetite" (nephesh) here implies a boundless craving that, left unchecked, leads to a vicious cycle of wanting and pursuing, never arriving at a state of genuine rest or fulfillment. The second part of the verse delivers the consistent verdict of Ecclesiastes: such an existence is hebel, a mere puff of breath, and re'ut ruach, a fruitless chase after something that can never be caught. It is a profound counsel for realistic living, encouraging a mindset that prioritizes appreciation for one's lot over succumbing to the consumeristic or materialistic pressures that promise elusive happiness. This is a practical wisdom often found in the Bible, calling believers to seek internal contentment rather than external accumulation or relentless striving. For instance, appreciating a simple meal with peace of mind (Prov 15:17) is deemed superior to feasting with strife, embodying "the sight of the eyes" over the "wandering of appetite" for more.