Proverbs 27:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Proverbs 27:20
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Chapter Context
Proverbs 27 is a wisdom sayings chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of mercy, love, creation. Written during primarily Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature was common in royal courts for training officials.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-27: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides guidance for worship and spiritual devotion. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Proverbs and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Proverbs 27:20
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Analysis
Hell and destruction are never full (שְׁאוֹל וַאֲבַדּוֹ לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה, sheol va'abaddo lo tisba'enah)—שְׁאוֹל (Sheol) denotes the realm of the dead, the grave that swallows all humanity; אֲבַדּוֹן (Abaddon, 'destruction, place of perishing') appears six times in Scripture, personified in Revelation 9:11 as the angel of the abyss. The verb שָׂבַע (sava, 'to be satisfied, filled') is negated absolutely.
So the eyes of man are never satisfied (וְעֵינֵי הָאָדָם לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה, ve'einei ha'adam lo tisba'enah)—human desire mirrors death's insatiability. John warns against 'the lust of the eyes' (1 John 2:16); Ecclesiastes declares all earthly pursuits vanity. Only in God do our souls find rest (Psalm 63:5).
Historical Context
Ancient Israelites viewed Sheol as an ever-hungry mouth (Isaiah 5:14, Habakkuk 2:5), swallowing the dead without distinction between righteous and wicked. This proverb reflects the wisdom tradition's meditation on human mortality and desire, themes fully developed in Ecclesiastes.
Reflection
- What desires in your life function like Sheol—never satisfied no matter how much you feed them?
- How does consumerism exploit the principle that 'the eyes of man are never satisfied'?
- Where have you found genuine satisfaction that transcends the endless cycle of desire?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Proverbs 15:11, 23:5, Job 26:6, Ecclesiastes 1:8, 4:8, 6:7