Ecclesiastes 6:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:7-10

The preacher here further shows the vanity and folly of heaping up worldly wealth and expecting happiness in it. I. How much soever we toil about the world, and get out of it, we can have for ourselves no more than a maintenance (Eccl. 6:7): All the labour of man is for his mouth, which craves it of him (Prov. 16:26); it is but food and raiment; what is more others have, not we; it is all for the mouth. Meats are but for the belly and the belly for meats; there is nothing for the head and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire ,.... By "the sight of the eyes" is not meant the bare beholding outward riches, as in Ecclesiastes 5:11 ; but the enjoyment of present mercies; such things as a man is in the possession of, and with which he should be content, Hebrews 13:5 ; and by "the wandering of the desire", the craving appetite and insatiable lust of the covetous mind, which enlarges its desire as hell, after a thousand things, and everything it can... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire - This is translated by the Vulgate, as a sort of adage: Melius est videre quod cupias, quam desiderare quod nescias, "It is better to see what one desires than to covet what one knows not." It is better to enjoy the present than to feed one's self with vain desires of the future. What we translate the wandering of desire, נפש מהלך mehaloch nephesh , is the travelling of the soul. What is this? Does it simply mean desire?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

Section 10. Desire is insatiable ; men are always striving after enjoyment, but they never gain their wish completely—which fortifies the old conclusion that man's happiness is not in his own power. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire ( nephesh , "the soul," Ecclesiastes 6:7 ). This is a further confirmation of the misery and unrest that accompany immoderate desires. "The sight of the eyes" means the enjoyment of the present, that which lies before one, in contrast to the restless craving for what is distant, uncertain, and out of reach. The lesson taught is to make the best of existing circumstances, to enjoy the present, to control the roaming of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

Connect these verses with Ecclesiastes 6:2-3 : “All labor is undertaken with a view to some profit, but as a rule the people who labor are never satisfied. What advantage then has he who labors if (being rich) he is wise, or if being poor he knows how to conduct himself properly; what advantage have such laborers above a fool? (None, so far as they are without contentment, for) a thing present before the eyes is preferable to a future which exists only in the desire.”Ecclesiastes 6:8What -... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Ecclesiastes 6:9. Better is the sight of the eyes That is, The comfortable enjoyment of what a man hath, seeing being often put for enjoying; than the wandering of the desire Than restless and insatiable desires of what a man hath not. This is also vanity This wandering of the desire, wherein many indulge themselves; and vexation of spirit It is not the way to satisfaction, as they imagine, but to vexation. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Advice about money (5:8-6:12)Greed for money is a common social evil and the cause of much suffering. Because of such greed, government officials exploit poor farmers. Each official makes sure he takes as much money as he can, so that after he has passed some of it on to those above him who protect him, he has enough left for himself. As for the farmers, besides losing their profits to corrupt officials, they must also give some of their harvest as a tax to the king (8-9).Prosperity does not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:24 . the sight of = what is seen by. the wandering of = what is pursued by. the desire = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . No Art. vexation of spirit. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:14 . spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 , read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 6:9

Ecclesiastes 6:9. Better is the sight of the eyes— The third and last proof, contained in this and the two preceding verses, is taken from the insatiableness of mens' wishes, whereby they are made miserable even when they get the utmost of what they can reasonably wish for. It is a vain and foolish thing to give a loose to your desires, instead of being satisfied with what you at present enjoy; since, whatever you may wish for, it is impossible for you personally to enjoy more than what your... read more