What is the meaning of Proverbs 27:20? Sheol and Abaddon “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied …” (Proverbs 27:20) • Sheol is the grave, the realm of the dead; Abaddon speaks of destruction. Both picture an open mouth that never stops consuming (Isaiah 5:14; Habakkuk 2:5). • Their endless appetite reminds us that death is a certainty for every person (Psalm 89:48; Hebrews 9:27). • The verse begins by anchoring our thoughts in realities that lie beyond daily distraction—realities God alone governs (Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11). Are never satisfied • Scripture portrays Sheol and Abaddon as bottomless pits—no amount of human bodies ever fills them (Proverbs 30:15-16). • The image emphasizes unceasing demand: the grave claims the rich and poor alike (Ecclesiastes 8:8). • By showing how relentless death is, Solomon sets up a comparison to another bottomless craving closer to home. So the eyes of man • The “eyes” symbolize our desires—what we see, want, and pursue (1 John 2:16). • From Eve’s first glance at forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6) to Achan’s coveting the spoil of Jericho (Joshua 7:21) and David’s look toward Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2), unchecked visual desire ushers in ruin. • Solomon names the same peril elsewhere: “All things are wearisome; more than one can describe. The eye is not satisfied with seeing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). Are never satisfied • Just as the grave never quits, fallen human desire keeps demanding “more”: – More possessions (Ecclesiastes 4:8; 6:7). – More pleasure (Proverbs 21:17). – More praise (Galatians 1:10). • No created thing can fill that vacuum; only God can satisfy the longing soul (Psalm 63:1-5; John 6:35). • The gospel answers restlessness with contentment: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6), and “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5). • Practical helps for disciplining the eyes: – Redirect them toward Scripture (Psalm 119:18, 37). – Cultivate gratitude for present blessings (Philippians 4:11-13). – Fix them on Christ, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). summary Proverbs 27:20 pairs the unquenchable appetite of death with the unquenchable appetite of human eyes to expose how deep our restlessness runs. Just as the grave keeps receiving, fallen hearts keep craving. The answer is not in having more but in yielding our sight—and therefore our desires—to the Lord who conquered death and alone satisfies the soul. |
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