Proverbs 27:20 · Bible study
Proverbs 27:20 Commentary: Sheol, Abaddon, and the Insatiable Eye
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Proverbs compare human desire to Sheol and Abaddon? This study unpacks the grammar, context, and pastoral implications of an unsettling verse.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Human desire, like the grave and destruction, is never satisfied; the verse warns against the insatiable pursuit of more.
- Key words: Sheol (underworld/grave), Abaddon (destruction), śāḇēaʿ (to be satisfied), ʿayin (eye, as metonym for desire).
- Main debate: Does “eyes of man” refer strictly to covetousness for wealth (Clarke, Gill) or to a broader human restlessness for anything new (Barnes, Keil)? Most see both as valid.
- Theological theme: The insatiability of sin and the need for a satisfaction that only God provides.
- Best use: A corrective to consumerism, greed, and the lie that “more” will finally fulfill.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.
KJV King James Version 1769
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
El sepulcro y la perdición nunca se hartan: así los ojos del hombre nunca están satisfechos.
O mundo dos mortos e a destruição nunca estão fartos; assim também os olhos do homem nunca estão satisfeitos.
Le séjour des morts et l’abîme sont insatiables;
Hölle und Abgrund werden nimmer voll, und der Menschen Augen sind auch unersättlich.
De hel en het verderf worden niet verzadigd; alzo worden de ogen des mensen niet verzadigd.
Il soggiorno dei morti e l’abisso sono insaziabili, e insaziabili son gli occhi degli uomini.
Piekło i zatracenie nie mogą być nasycone; także i oczy ludzkie nasycić się nie mogą.
Преисподняя и Аваддон - ненасытимы; так ненасытимы и глаза человеческие. [Мерзость пред Господом дерзко поднимающий глаза, и неразумны невоздержанные языком.]
陰間 和滅亡 永不 滿足；人 的眼目也是如此。
The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 27:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this proverb pairs two insatiable forces: the realm of death and the human eye. The Hebrew verb tiśbaʿnah (“are satisfied”) governs both lines, tying them together. Adam Clarke observes that just as the grave can never be filled with bodies, so “the restless desire, the lust of power, riches, and splendor, is never satisfied.” Albert Barnes points to “the lust of the eye, the restless craving which grows with what it feeds on.” Keil and Delitzsch note that the eye is “the instrument and the representation of human covetousness,” and they cite the Arabic proverb: “Nothing fills the eyes of man but at last the dust of the grave.” The verse echoes Proverbs 30:15, 16, where Sheol is one of four things that never say “Enough.” The consensus is clear: human longing, whether for wealth, pleasure, or novelty, mirrors the hunger of death itself.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Covetousness interpretation: Adam Clarke, Geneva Bible, and Gill read the verse as a direct condemnation of greed for riches and power (cf. Prov 23:5, Eccl 5:10).
- Universal desire interpretation: Barnes, Keil & Delitzsch, and Matthew Henry see a broader reference to the restless longing of the human heart, covering novelty, pleasure, ambition, and anything that the eye craves (cf. Eccl 1:8).
- Eyes as metonym for desire: Most commentators agree that 'eyes' represent the seat of desire in Hebrew idiom; the debate is over the range of objects that provoke this insatiability.
What is clear: Both Sheol/Abaddon and human eyes are never satisfied; the comparison is intentional, and the verse universally warns against the danger of unchecked desire.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of Sheol and Abaddon | Both terms refer to the realm of the dead: Sheol is the underworld, Abaddon is destruction. They are often paired in wisdom literature (Job 26:6; Prov 15:11). | Some traditions (e.g., Keil & Delitzsch, noting the Targum) see Abaddon as the place of final punishment, comparable to Gehenna; others (Gill, Matthew Henry) treat it as a synonym for the grave or the general abode of the dead. The difference does not affect the main point of the verse. |
| Scope of 'eyes of man' | The 'eyes' represent human desire or longing, not just physical sight. Commentators link it to covetousness, the lust of the eye, and the restless craving for more. | Some (Adam Clarke, Geneva Bible) emphasize greed for money and possessions; others (Barnes, Keil) see a broader restlessness that includes all forms of novelty, ambition, and pleasure. Both views are represented in the supplied excerpts. |
| Continuity with surrounding verses | The verse is placed within a section on wise stewardship and relationships (vv. 17, 24). The insatiability warning serves as a contrast to the call to 'know well the state of your flocks.' | Matthew Henry sees a direct link, those satisfied in God do not suffer from this insatiable craving. The debate is more about application than exegesis. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Proverbs 27:20 comes from the wisdom tradition of ancient Israel, a body of literature that trains readers in the art of living well before God. Sheol (šəʾôl) was the shadowy underworld where the dead dwelt, a place of silence and forgetfulness (Ps 88:12). In the ancient Near East, Sheol was often pictured as a ravenous mouth that never closes, a theme also found in the Canaanite Ugaritic texts, where the god Mot (Death) has an insatiable appetite. ʾĂḇaddôn (“Abaddon” or “Destruction”) is sometimes paired with Sheol as a synonym (Job 26:6; Prov 15:11), though Keil and Delitzsch note that the Targum Jonathan treats Abaddon as “the place of destruction” or the second death. The verb śāḇēaʿ (“to be satisfied, sated”) is used literally of eating one’s fill, but here it is negated to describe permanent craving.
Literarily, the verse is set within a group of sayings about friendship, stewardship, and the vanity of riches (Prov 27:17, 24). Immediately after this warning about insatiable desire, the text turns to practical advice: “Know well the state of your flocks” (v. 23). The contrast is deliberate: human eyes grasp for what they cannot hold, but a wise person focuses on the manageable duties God has given. The piling up of wealth or experiences never satisfies; contentment is found elsewhere.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants that affect the meaning of Proverbs 27:20. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. A minor orthographic variation concerns the spelling of ʾĂḇaddôn: the Kethiv reads văʾăḇaddâ (וּלְאַבַּדָּה) while the Qere reads vaʾăḇaddô (וַאֲבַדּוֹ), a difference in the final vowel indicating the pronominal suffix (“its destruction”). Most modern editions follow the Qere. This does not alter the sense of the verse.
Reception History
This verse has been a staple in Christian teaching on contentment and the danger of covetousness. Early church writers such as John Chrysostom cited it to warn against the insatiable love of money. Medieval monastic traditions used it to encourage simplicity and detachment from material goods. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry saw in it a mirror of original sin: Adam and Eve were not satisfied with all the trees of Eden. In modern preaching, the verse is often applied to consumer culture and the endless pursuit of more. Across traditions, the proverb has served as a sobering reminder that only in God can the human heart find lasting satisfaction.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Two hungry mouths. Sheol and Abaddon are personified as never saying “Enough.” The grave devours every generation and still yawns for more.
- The eye that never blinks. The human eye, here a metonym for desire, is equally relentless. It craves new sights, more possessions, higher status.
- A wisdom that checks the cravings. The surrounding verses (17, 23) redirect attention to faithful work, honest friendship, and stewardship. The antidote to insatiable desire is not more acquisition but a disciplined heart.
Five-point outline
- Death’s appetite (v. 20a). Sheol and Abaddon stand for the grave and final destruction; they are never filled.
- Our appetite (v. 20b). The same Hebrew verb links human eyes to death’s hunger.
- The root of restlessness. Greed, covetousness, and the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:16) drive the endless search for more.
- Why it matters. Unchecked desire leads to broken relationships, idolatry, and spiritual emptiness.
- The better satisfaction. Matthew Henry notes that those whose eyes are “ever toward the Lord in him are satisfied, and shall for ever be so.” The gospel offers a satisfaction that death cannot mimic.
Illustration hooks
- A child unwrapping presents on a birthday, each one exciting for a moment, then the eyes look for the next package.
- Scrolling through social media, always wanting the next post, the next like, the next purchase.
- The retirement account that is never “enough,” no matter how many zeros are added.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Is it wrong to want more in life, a better job, a bigger house?”
- “How do I know when desire has become sinful greed?”
- “What does it look like to be satisfied in God when I still have unmet longings?”
Leading a Discussion
This proverb puts two insatiable forces side by side: death and human desire. As you discuss, keep in mind that the verse is not condemning every legitimate want, it is diagnosing a hunger that can never be filled on its own terms.
Discussion questions
- Read Proverbs 27:20 in several translations (e.g., WEB, KJV, ASV). What is the effect of using the same verb “satisfied” for both Sheol and human eyes?
- Sheol and Abaddon are dark, negative images. Why do you think the sage chose them to compare with human eyes?
- Look at Proverbs 30:15, 16. How does that passage expand on the theme of insatiability?
- In what areas of life do you see the “hunger of the eye” at work, in yourself, in your family, in your culture?
- How does this proverb connect with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19, 21 about treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven?
- Some commentators see this verse as a warning against covetousness; others as a broader statement about the human condition. Which perspective resonates more with your experience?
- What practices or habits can help a person experience satisfaction in God rather than the endless craving described here?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 26:6 | Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering. |
| Proverbs 15:11 | Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! |
| Proverbs 23:5 | Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. |
| Proverbs 30:15 | “The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’: |
| Proverbs 30:16 | Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’ |
| Ecclesiastes 1:8 | All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. |
| Ecclesiastes 2:10 | Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. |
| Ecclesiastes 2:11 | Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that God compares a covetous person’s soul to hell because such a soul is never full. He also says human desire for power riches and glory is never satisfied just as the grave is never full of bodies.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a striking parallel between Hades and Death, universally imagined as never satisfied, and the human craving of the eye. That restless appetite for what we see is just as insatiable, always growing on what it feeds.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the Hebrew word here means satisfied rather than hell or destruction. This same word appears at the end of the verse.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note draws a sharp parallel between death and human desire: neither can ever be satisfied. Just as the grave and destruction endlessly consume, so the human appetite for more remains unquenchable.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a parallel between two insatiable things: the grave and hell never have enough bodies or souls, and human desires are just as bottomless. He notes that neither the physical eye nor the lusts of the mind are ever fully satisfied, making the comparison a warning about endless craving.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Men's cupidity is as insatiable as the grave.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch see human desire as the root of insatiability (Proverbs 27:20). They explain that the eyes never feel full because they constantly seek new things, making it hard to obey the command to avoid evil.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry pairs death and sin as the two things nothing can fill: the grave always demands more bodies, and human desire always craves more than it has. He traces this restlessness back to Eden, where even paradise could not satisfy our first parents.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the grave as the hell that devours every body placed in it and stands ever ready for more. The eyes, he explains, represent the desires that reveal themselves through the eyes.