Proverbs 27:20 kjv

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Proverbs 27:20 nkjv

Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Proverbs 27:20 niv

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.

Proverbs 27:20 esv

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

Proverbs 27:20 nlt

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
so human desire is never satisfied.

Proverbs 27 verses

Proverbs 27 20 Meaning

Proverbs 27:20 states a fundamental truth about insatiable desire. Just as "Hell" (Sheol) and "Destruction" (Abaddon) are never satisfied and always crave more, so too are the desires, ambitions, and appetites of humanity perpetually unsatisfied. The verse uses these profound metaphors of death's unyielding maw and the abyss of destruction to illustrate the unending nature of human cravings, whether for wealth, power, pleasure, or knowledge, which can never bring true fulfillment or contentment on their own.

Proverbs 27 20 Context

Proverbs 27 falls within a larger section of proverbs attributed to Solomon, focusing on practical wisdom for daily life and relationships. This chapter specifically addresses topics like flattery, envy, discipline, the value of true friendship, prudence, honesty, and diligence in work. Verse 20 serves as a powerful reminder of a profound aspect of human nature—insatiable desire—and can be seen as a culmination or summary thought within these varied practical maxims. It connects with other proverbs that warn against the dangers of covetousness, materialism, and unbridled ambition (e.g., Pro 23:4-5, Pro 28:22). Culturally, Sheol was understood as the general realm of the dead, a deep, dark place from which none returned (except by divine intervention). Abaddon represented a place of ruin or destruction, emphasizing the finality of demise. The pairing of these terms highlights an insatiable, devouring quality that never reaches a point of "enough." There is no direct polemic against contemporary beliefs, but rather a universal statement about human depravity and fallenness in contrast to the sufficiency found only in God.

Proverbs 27 20 Word analysis

• Hell (Hebrew: Sheol, שְׁאוֹל):
  • Meaning: The grave, the underworld, the realm of the dead, the common abode of departed spirits. It is not necessarily a place of torment in the Old Testament as much as it is a place of shadows and silence, the final destiny for all humans, good or wicked.
  • Significance: It is portrayed as having an unquenchable appetite, an "open mouth" that always takes in more and is never filled, emphasizing its endless capacity to receive the deceased.
  • Further insights: This term often denotes the irreversible, universal aspect of death. It illustrates something that consumes without end.
• Destruction (Hebrew: Abaddon, אֲבַדּוֹן):
  • Meaning: Literally "a place of perishing," ruin, annihilation, the abyss. In the Old Testament, it's often linked with Sheol or refers to a deep pit. In later Jewish apocalyptic literature and Revelation, it personifies a destructive angel or ruler of the abyss (Rev 9:11).
  • Significance: Paired with Sheol, it reinforces the concept of an unceasing void or capacity. It signifies the utter emptiness and ultimate ruin that unsatisfied cravings can lead to.
  • Further insights: It deepens the metaphor beyond mere death to the very state of ultimate destruction and lack of substance.
• are never full / are never satisfied (Hebrew: לֹא־תִשְׂבַּע, lo-tisba'; root sabea', שָׂבֵעַ, "to be full, satisfied, have enough"):
  • Meaning: Expresses the inability to reach satiety or completion. The negative "lo" emphatically states "not full."
  • Significance: This is the core predicate, directly applying the quality of endless emptiness from Sheol and Abaddon to the human condition.
• So the eyes of man / the eyes are never satisfied (Hebrew: וְעֵינֵי הָאָדָם לֹא תִשְׂבַּע, v'einei ha'adam lo tisba'):
  • Word Group: This forms a strong poetic parallel (synthetic parallelism) to the first part of the verse.
  • "eyes of man" (עֵינֵי הָאָדָם, einei ha'adam):
    • Meaning: The eyes here are a synecdoche, representing the full scope of human desire, covetousness, ambition, and longing. It's what people look at and desire to possess.
    • Significance: Sight often initiates desire (e.g., Eve seeing the forbidden fruit). It highlights the outward-looking, acquisitive nature of human longing. This is not about literal eyesight but the cravings stemming from what one perceives and wishes for. The problem isn't the object of desire, but the desire's boundless nature within the fallen human heart.

Proverbs 27 20 Bonus section

• The wisdom literature frequently points out the futility of human striving apart from God (e.g., Ecclesiastes). This verse echoes that theme by identifying one of the core reasons for that futility: the inherent inability of anything created to satisfy the soul's infinite capacity for God.
• While Sheol in the Old Testament is a general term for the grave/realm of the dead, later biblical and theological development distinguishes between the temporary holding places of the righteous and unrighteous dead. However, its 'insatiability' remains a constant characteristic as it refers to death's ultimate grasp on all humanity.
• The comparison serves as a stark warning: pursuing material desires without end leads to a kind of spiritual destruction, mimicking the emptiness of Abaddon. The very pursuit of 'more' leads to 'less' in terms of genuine satisfaction and can trap one in a cycle of longing and dissatisfaction.
• This proverb underlines the urgency of finding contentment not in acquisition, but in a change of heart, in gratitude, and in resting in divine provision, aligning with New Testament teaching on true wealth and contentment in Christ.

Proverbs 27 20 Commentary

Proverbs 27:20 vividly declares that insatiable desire is a foundational aspect of fallen human nature. It establishes a potent parallel between the relentless consumption of death and destruction (Sheol and Abaddon) and the unending cravings of the human heart, symbolized by the "eyes of man." Just as the grave continually receives without ever declaring "enough," so too do human appetites for wealth, power, pleasure, recognition, or even knowledge, endlessly demand more without ever finding true or lasting contentment. This applies particularly to material and earthly pursuits when they become the sole focus or source of perceived fulfillment. No matter how much one acquires, the internal void remains, pushing for the next gain, the next experience, the next accumulation. True satisfaction and an end to this striving can only be found outside of self and created things, ultimately pointing to God Himself as the singular source of complete and enduring rest for the soul.

• Examples:
  • The multi-millionaire who relentlessly pursues the next billion.
  • The celebrity constantly seeking more fame and public adulation.
  • The pleasure-seeker who moves from one indulgence to another, never satisfied.
  • The power-hungry individual who seeks greater control and influence, regardless of current position.