Kohelet 6:7

7 All the amal (labor) of haAdam is for his mouth, and yet the nefesh is not satisfied.

Kohelet 6:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 6:7

All the labour of man [is] for his mouth
For the food of his mouth, as the Targum; for the sustenance of his body, for food and clothing, part being put for the whole: all that a man labours for is to get this; and if he does not enjoy it, his labour is in vain; meats are for the belly, which are taken in by the mouth, and for these a man labours; and if he does not eat them, when he has got them, he labours to no purpose; and yet the appetite is not filled;
even the bodily or sensual appetite; no, not even by those who eat the fruit of their labour; for though their hunger is allayed for the present, and the appetite is satisfied for a while, yet it returns again, and requires more food, and so continually: or, "the soul is not filled", or "satisfied" ^F3; it is the body only that is filled or satisfied with such things, at best; the mind of man grasps after greater things, and can find no contentment or satisfaction in earthly or sensual enjoyments. This seems to be a new argument, proving the vanity of riches, from the narrow use of them; which only reaches to the body, not to the soul.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (almt al vpnh) "anima non implebitur", Pagninus, Montanus; "anima non expletur", Mercerus, Gejerus; "non impletur", Cocceius, so Broughton; "non satiatur", Drusius.

Kohelet 6:7 In-Context

5 Moreover though he hath not seen the shemesh, nor known any thing, this hath more nakhat (rest, quietness) than the other.

6 Yea, though he live an elef shanim twice over, yet hath he seen no tovah. Do not all go to mekom echad?

7 All the amal (labor) of haAdam is for his mouth, and yet the nefesh is not satisfied.

8 For what hath the chacham more than the kesil? What hath the poor man, who has da’as of how to conduct himself before the living?

9 Better what the eynayim see than the roving of the nefesh; this also is hevel and chasing after ruach.