Ecclesiastes 6:7 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

All the labour of man (is) for his mouth - rather, 'of the man,' namely, the miser (Ecclesiastes 6:3-6). For not all men labour for the mouth, i:e., for selfish gratification. So the Hebrew, haa'aadaam (H120).

The appetite - Hebrew, the soul. The insatiability of the desire prevents that which is the only end proposed in toils, namely, self- gratification. The "man" thus gets no "good" out of his wealth (Ecclesiastes 6:3). The marvel is that we should 'so much harass ourselves for so small a thing, and one so easily procured. Since all that one gains by ceaseless toil has reference to food and raiment, and since nature is content with little, this insatiable desire of getting is mad and monstrous. God has made our mouth very small; yet the desire of gain is as vast as if our mouth was as large as a whirlpool, and able to swallow the Jordan at a draught; or as if we had the mouth of Leviathan' (Cartwright). (1 Timothy 6:9.)

Ecclesiastes 6:7

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetitea is not filled.