The Eye: Not Satisfied With Riches
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of the eye not being satisfied with riches is a recurring theme in the Bible, highlighting the insatiable nature of human desire and the futility of seeking fulfillment in material wealth. This theme is particularly evident in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, where the limitations of earthly possessions are contrasted with the enduring value of spiritual riches.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 · The Preacher, traditionally understood to be Solomon, reflects on the vanity of human toil and the endless pursuit of wealth. He observes, "There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. There is no end to his toil, and his eyes are not content with wealth. 'For whom do I toil and deprive myself of pleasure?' This too is futile—a miserable task." . This passage underscores the emptiness of laboring solely for material gain, as the eye, symbolic of desire, remains unsatisfied despite the accumulation of riches.

Proverbs 27:20 · The proverb states, "Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." . Here, the insatiable nature of the grave is likened to human desire, emphasizing that just as death is never full, so too are the eyes of man never content with what they possess. This comparison serves as a stark reminder of the futility of seeking satisfaction in temporal wealth.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 · Further elaborating on this theme, the Preacher declares, "He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is futile." . The pursuit of wealth, driven by the love of money, is portrayed as an endless cycle that fails to bring true contentment. The eye, representing human desire, remains perpetually unfulfilled, highlighting the transient nature of material possessions.

1 John 2:16 · In the New Testament, the Apostle John warns against the lust of the eyes, which is part of the worldly desires that lead one away from God. "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world." . The "desires of the eyes" are linked to covetousness and the relentless pursuit of material wealth, which ultimately do not satisfy the deeper spiritual needs of the soul.

Matthew 6:22-23 · Jesus teaches about the importance of spiritual vision, stating, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" . Here, the eye symbolizes one's focus and desires. A healthy spiritual perspective leads to a life filled with light, while an unhealthy focus on material wealth results in spiritual darkness.

The biblical portrayal of the eye as never satisfied with riches serves as a cautionary message about the dangers of materialism and the importance of seeking fulfillment in God rather than in the fleeting pleasures of this world. The Scriptures consistently encourage believers to fix their eyes on eternal treasures, which alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither said he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a sore travail.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Words Themselves in General.
... The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear ... The avaricious man is not satisfied
with gold, nor the ambitious ... Is not the riches of his fulness written on ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter ii of the words.htm

Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and all ...
... 4. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that shall ... 5. Be
ofttimes mindful of the saying,(3) The eye is not satisfied with seeing ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter i of the imitation.htm

The First Chapter: Imitating Christ and Despising all Vanities on ...
... It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. ... Often recall the
proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the first chapter imitating christ.htm

Tenth Commandment
... Our innermost life, invisible to mortal eye, is laid bare ... the abundance of the rich
will not suffer him ... Is the covetous man ever satisfied with his possessions ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

On the Danger of Increasing Riches
... is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a ... you "awake up after his likeness,
and be satisfied with it ... Perhaps I may not trouble you any more on this head. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 126 on the danger.htm

Two Kinds of Riches
... aim, of a quiet conscience, of a filled and satisfied and therefore ... It is not his
own in any real sense. ... or estate, if I look at them with an eye that loves ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/two kinds of riches.htm

A Believer's Privilege at Death
... always going about his diocese; he has his snares and his darts; one he tempts with
riches, another with ... Solomon says, The eye is not satisfied with seeing ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 a believers privilege at.htm

To Prayer, Then, are we Indebted for Penetrating to those Riches ...
... Gospel of our Lord discovers to the eye of faith. ... Assuredly it is not without cause
our heavenly Father ... laid before the Lord, we rest fully satisfied with the ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 2 to prayer then.htm

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Easter
... Thus nature has given to the eye to see, to the ... to the end that their carnal lust
may thus be satisfied. ... confesses himself to be guilty of, are not so perilous ...
/.../xvi sermon for the fourth.htm

The Hope of Future Bliss
... the hot sun, it would quench it; should she cast her evil eye on the ... given me, let
me say, "Ye may have yours, I will not envy you"I am satisfied with mine ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the hope of future bliss.htm

Resources
What does the Bible mean by "an eye for an eye"? | GotQuestions.org

What is the all-seeing eye? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be the apple of God's eye? | GotQuestions.org

Eye: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Eye

Eye for an Eye

Eye of Evil Desire, Never Satisfied

Eye: Anthropomorphic Uses of

Eye: The offending

The Eye of the Mind

The Eye: (Anointing With Eyesalve) of Healing by the Spirit

The Eye: (Open) Spiritual Illumination

The Eye: A Guard to be Set On

The Eye: Actions of, Mentioned in Scripture: Directing

The Eye: Actions of, Mentioned in Scripture: Seeing

The Eye: Actions of, Mentioned in Scripture: Weeping

The Eye: Actions of, Mentioned in Scripture: Winking

The Eye: Consumed by Grief

The Eye: Consumed by Sickness

The Eye: Frequently Fair

The Eye: God: Enlightens

The Eye: God: Formed

The Eye: God: Made

The Eye: God: Opens

The Eye: Grows Dim by Age

The Eye: Grows Dim by Sorrow

The Eye: Made Red by Wine

The Eye: Not Evil Thing to be Set Before

The Eye: Not Satisfied With Riches

The Eye: Not Satisfied With Seeing

The Eye: Often Put out As a Punishment

The Eye: Parts of Mentioned in Scripture: The Apple or Ball

The Eye: Parts of Mentioned in Scripture: The Brow

The Eye: Parts of Mentioned in Scripture: The Lid

The Eye: Punishment for Injuring

The Eye: Sometimes Blemished

The Eye: Sometimes Tender

The Eye: The Jewish Women often Painted

The Eye: The Jews: Cast, on the Ground in Humiliation

The Eye: The Jews: Not to Make Baldness Between

The Eye: The Jews: Raised Up, in Prayer

The Eye: The Jews: Wore Their Phylacteries Between

The Eye: The Light of the Body

The Eye: The Light of, Rejoices the Heart

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Eye: Not Evil Thing to be Set Before
Top of Page
Top of Page