All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
All the work that people do is to feed themselves, but they are never truly satisfied.
The writer is pointing out that even though we work hard to meet our needs, we still find ourselves wanting more and never feeling completely fulfilled.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom literature in the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who reflects on the meaninglessness of human efforts without considering God. In the historical context of ancient Israel, people worked hard to meet basic needs like food, but this verse highlights the futility of such labor because desires remain unfulfilled, pointing to a broader theme of vanity in life's pursuits. This observation fits into the biblical narrative where wisdom writers explore the temporary nature of earthly achievements.
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