Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 27:20
What does Proverbs 27:20 mean?
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Proverbs 27:20
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The verse uses the exact same word for "satisfied" in both halves, directly equating the insatiable hunger of Sheol and Abaddon with the human eye. This isn't just saying we desire things; it's highlighting a primal, consuming emptiness within us that, like death itself, can never be filled.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb appears within a collection of wisdom sayings that often contrast foolishness with wise living. The preceding verses talk about the fleeting nature of wealth and the dangers of relying on it, while the verses following continue to explore the insatiable nature of human desire and the importance of vigilance. This verse uses the imagery of death and the grave to highlight how human cravings, like the lust for possessions or power, are equally unending.
The Bible doesn't shy away from stark imagery. Here, it uses two powerful words to describe a terrifying, unending appetite. What do they represent, and why are they introduced?
Proverbs 27:20 opens with a striking comparison: 'Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied.'
Sheol and Abaddon
An Unending Appetite
Together, these terms paint a picture of ultimate consumption. The grave devours bodies, and destruction consumes all it touches. Yet, the verse insists they are never satisfied. No matter how many lives end, how much is destroyed, the void remains. This isn't just a bleak observation; it sets up the verse's core message about human desire.
The verse links the insatiable grave to something incredibly familiar: our own eyes. What does this connection reveal about the nature of human longing?
The verse makes a dramatic pivot: '...and never satisfied are the eyes of man.' This isn't just about physical sight; the 'eyes' here represent our desires, our cravings, what we long for.
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The Lust of the Eyes
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Just like Sheol and Abaddon, these desires can never be truly filled. The more we feed them, the hungrier they become. This is the core of human restlessness when seeking fulfillment in anything less than God.
If our desires are fundamentally insatiable in the world, where does lasting contentment come from? This proverb points us beyond the visible.
The stark contrast between the void of Sheol/Abaddon and the restless human eye isn't meant to leave us hopeless. Instead, it serves as a powerful pointer:
The Limits of Earthly Pursuits
Everything in this world—possessions, status, experiences—ultimately falls short of true satisfaction. Chasing after them is like trying to fill a bottomless pit. The verse implicitly argues that true contentment cannot be found in accumulating or experiencing more of what the world offers.
The Divine Invitation
God, in His wisdom, presents this truth to lead us elsewhere. The only One who can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart is God Himself. As Psalm 36:8-9 says, 'They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.' True satisfaction isn't found in endless pursuit, but in resting in God.
Understand the original words
Sheol · Hebrew Noun
The place of the dead or the grave. In Old Testament theology, it represents the common destination of all, a place of stillness and darkness that stands in contrast to the fullness of life found in God's presence.
Abaddon · Hebrew Noun
A term often paired with Sheol that signifies destruction, ruin, or the place of the dead. It emphasizes the absolute reality of death and the insatiable nature of the grave to consume all life.
This passage directly echoes Proverbs 27:20 by listing the things that are never satisfied: the leech's two daughters, Sheol, the thirsty ground, and the fire. It powerfully illustrates the insatiable nature described here.
Ecclesiastes 1:8This verse speaks to the futility of endless human striving and desire, stating that 'all things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it.' It connects with the idea that man's eyes and desires are never satisfied, leading to a cycle of wanting.
Isaiah 5:14This prophecy describes Sheol 'enlarging itself and opening its mouth beyond measure,' paralleling the insatiable nature of 'hell and destruction' from Proverbs 27:20. It highlights the ultimate consequence of ungodliness.
Habakkuk 2:5This verse describes the greed of the Chaldeans, stating that they 'enlarge their appetite like Sheol and cannot get enough.' This directly links the insatiable craving of humanity with the imagery of an ever-consuming grave or underworld.
1 John 2:16John describes the 'lust of the eyes' as one of the three main sources of temptation, alongside the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. This illuminates how man's unsatisfied eyes drive a desire for worldly possessions and experiences.
gillProverbs 27:20: "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied."
Hell and destruction are never full,.... The grave, as the word used often signifies; and which may be called "destruction", because bodies laid in it are soon corrupted and destroyed; and though bodies are cast into it and devoured by it, it is ready for more; it is one of the four things which never have enough. The place where Gog is said to be buried is called Hamongog, the multitude of Gog, Ezeki…
jfbProverbs 27:20: "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied."
- Men's cupidity is as insatiable as the grave.
The verse uses the exact same word for "satisfied" in both halves, directly equating the insatiable hunger of Sheol and Abaddon with the human eye. This isn't just saying we desire things; it's highlighting a primal, consuming emptiness within us that, like death itself, can never be filled.
This proverb appears within a collection of wisdom sayings that often contrast foolishness with wise living. The preceding verses talk about the fleeting nature of wealth and the dangers of relying on it, while the verses following continue to explore the insatiable nature of human desire and the importance of vigilance. This verse uses the imagery of death and the grave to highlight how human cravings, like the lust for possessions or power, are equally unending.
This proverb appears within a collection of wisdom sayings that often contrast foolishness with wise living. The preceding verses talk about the fleeting nature of wealth and the dangers of relying on it, while the verses following continue to explore the insatiable nature of human desire and the importance of vigilance. This verse uses the imagery of death and the grave to highlight how human cravings, like the lust for possessions or power, are equally unending.
"Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man." — The verse uses the exact same word for "satisfied" in both halves, directly equating the insatiable hunger of Sheol and Abaddon with the human eye. This isn't just saying we desire things; it's h…
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Last reviewed October 2026