Ecclesiastes 6:7 Meaning and Explanation
“All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →People work endlessly to feed themselves, yet the deeper hunger of the soul is never satisfied by what they gain.
What Does Ecclesiastes 6:7 Mean?
Solomon turns to the daily round of work. 'All the labour of man is for his mouth,' he says, picturing the way so much effort goes simply to sustaining life. Yet 'the appetite is not filled.' The mouth is fed, but a deeper hunger remains, never quite met by bread alone.
Here the Preacher touches one of the truest aches of the human heart: there is a longing in us that no amount of getting can satisfy. We were made for more than what our hands can provide. Jesus would later speak of a bread that endures and a water that ends all thirst, the satisfaction the soul truly craves. Until we find our filling in God, the appetite Solomon names keeps quietly returning.
Ecclesiastes 6:7 in the Original Language
nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), 'appetite' -- the same word rendered 'soul,' here the deep, hungering desire within a person.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 6:7
What does Ecclesiastes 6:7 mean?
People work endlessly to feed themselves, yet the deeper hunger of the soul is never satisfied by what they gain.