Ecclesiastes 1:8 Meaning and Explanation
“All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Everything is wearisome beyond words, and the senses are never satisfied, always craving more than they receive.
What Does Ecclesiastes 1:8 Mean?
Having watched the sun, wind, and rivers, the Preacher draws the lesson together. All things are full of a labor too great to put into words, and the human senses prove just as restless: the eye keeps looking, the ear keeps listening, and neither is ever full.
This is an honest diagnosis of the human heart. No amount of seeing or hearing finally contents us, because we are made for more than the world can pour in. The verse names a hunger it does not yet feed, preparing the reader to seek satisfaction not in the endless stream of sights and sounds but in the God for whom the soul was made.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 1:8
What does Ecclesiastes 1:8 mean?
Everything is wearisome beyond words, and the senses are never satisfied, always craving more than they receive.