Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Original Language Analysis
ט֛וֹב
Better
H2896
ט֛וֹב
Better
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
1 of 10
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
מַרְאֵ֥ה
is the sight
H4758
מַרְאֵ֥ה
is the sight
Strong's:
H4758
Word #:
2 of 10
a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks),
עֵינַ֖יִם
of the eyes
H5869
עֵינַ֖יִם
of the eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
3 of 10
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
מֵֽהֲלָךְ
than the wandering
H1980
מֵֽהֲלָךְ
than the wandering
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
4 of 10
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
נָ֑פֶשׁ
of the desire
H5315
נָ֑פֶשׁ
of the desire
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
גַּם
H1571
גַּם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הֶ֖בֶל
this is also vanity
H1892
הֶ֖בֶל
this is also vanity
Strong's:
H1892
Word #:
8 of 10
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature frequently contrasted desire and contentment. The Egyptian 'Instruction of Ptahhotep' (circa 2400 BC) similarly warned against greed. Solomon's unique contribution is showing that even wise contentment, without God, remains 'vapor' (hevel).
Questions for Reflection
- What 'wandering desires' consume your attention instead of gratitude for present blessings?
- How does contentment 'in the Lord' (Phil 4:4) differ from the Preacher's contentment 'under the sun'?
Analysis & Commentary
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire (טוֹב מַרְאֵה עֵינַיִם מֵהֲלָךְ־נָפֶשׁ)—Literally, 'better what the eyes see than the soul's walking.' The Hebrew nephesh (soul/appetite) constantly roams, craving what is absent. The Preacher advocates contentment with present realities over endless yearning for what we don't have.
Yet even this modest wisdom is vanity and vexation of spirit (hevel ū-re'ūt rūaḥ). The phrase 'vexation of spirit' literally means 'shepherding the wind'—a futile attempt to control the uncontrollable. Paul echoes this in Philippians 4:11-12, having learned contentment, but grounds it in Christ's sufficiency rather than philosophical resignation.