Ecclesiastes 1:8

All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

All things {H1697} are full of labour {H3023}; man {H376} cannot {H3201} utter {H1696} it: the eye {H5869} is not satisfied {H7646} with seeing {H7200}, nor the ear {H241} filled {H4390} with hearing {H8085}.

Everything is wearisome, more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, the ear not filled up with hearing.

All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 is a poignant observation from the Preacher (Koheleth) about the restless and often unfulfilling nature of human existence "under the sun." It expands on the book's opening themes of vanity and the cyclical, monotonous patterns of life.

Context

This verse is part of the opening argument of the Book of Ecclesiastes, following the declaration that "all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2) and the questioning of what profit man has from his toil (Ecclesiastes 1:3). The Preacher has just described the relentless, unchanging cycles of nature (sun, wind, rivers) that never truly reach their destination, setting the stage for his perspective on human endeavor. Verse 8 applies this sense of ceaseless, unfulfilling motion directly to human experience and perception.

Key Themes

  • Insatiable Desire: The verse vividly portrays the human tendency towards perpetual craving. The eye is never content with what it sees, nor the ear with what it hears. This highlights a fundamental dissatisfaction inherent in pursuing worldly knowledge, pleasure, or possessions.
  • Futility of Earthly Pursuits: It underscores the book's overarching theme that efforts focused solely on the material world or human achievement, apart from God, lead to weariness and an ultimate lack of lasting satisfaction. No matter how much one experiences, learns, or acquires, true contentment remains elusive.
  • Human Limitation and Weariness: The phrase "All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it" suggests the immense, overwhelming nature of this toil and dissatisfaction. It's so pervasive that it's beyond human capacity to fully articulate or comprehend its extent.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "labour" here is yagea' (יָגֵעַ), which carries connotations of weariness, vexation, and burdensome toil. It's not just physical work but the mental and emotional exhaustion that comes from relentless striving without purpose. The term "satisfied" (saba' - שָׂבַע) implies being full, satiated, or content. The negative phrasing emphasizes that the senses are never truly "filled" or "satisfied" by external stimuli, pointing to a deeper spiritual hunger.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 1:8 serves as a profound reminder that earthly pursuits alone cannot bring ultimate fulfillment. Our inherent human desires, when directed solely at what is "under the sun," lead to an endless cycle of wanting more. This verse encourages us to reflect on the source of true contentment. It subtly points towards the need to seek satisfaction beyond the material and sensory, perhaps in a relationship with the Creator who alone can truly satisfy the deepest longings of the soul, unlike the fleeting satisfaction offered by the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 27:20

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

  • Matthew 11:28

    Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:8

    There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.

  • Matthew 5:6

    Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:1

    ¶ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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