1:14 1:14

Ecclesiastes 1:15

1:16 1:16

Bible Versions

[That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
That which is crooked {H5791} cannot {H3201} be made straight {H8626}: and that which is wanting {H2642} cannot {H3201} be numbered {H4487}.
What is crooked can't be straightened; what is not there can't be counted.
What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 is a profound observation by the Preacher, or Koheleth, on the inherent limitations and imperfections of the world and human endeavor. It encapsulates a central theme of the book: the futility of human effort to rectify fundamental flaws "under the sun" without divine intervention.

Context

This verse appears early in Ecclesiastes, following the Preacher's extensive reflections on the cyclical nature of life, the endless pursuit of wisdom, pleasure, and wealth, and his conclusion that all is "vanity of vanities." He observes that much in the world is inherently flawed or missing, and beyond human capacity to fix or account for. It sets the stage for his exploration of life's enigmas and disappointments, highlighting that not all problems can be solved by human ingenuity or effort.

Key Themes

  • Human Limitation: The verse powerfully asserts that certain aspects of life, once distorted or lost, are beyond human ability to correct or recover. It speaks to the unfixable nature of some problems in a fallen world, emphasizing that man is not omnipotent.
  • Futility of Effort: It reinforces the book's overarching message that human striving, when detached from a transcendent perspective, ultimately encounters insurmountable obstacles and deficiencies. What is broken cannot always be mended by human hands.
  • Acceptance of Reality: The Preacher encourages a realistic view of life's imperfections. Not everything can be made perfect or complete; some things are simply "crooked" or "wanting," and accepting this reality is part of wisdom.
  • Implicit Need for Divine Intervention: While not explicitly stated here, this human inability implicitly points to a greater power. If man cannot make the crooked straight, then only God can truly bring ultimate order and completeness, as seen in passages like Isaiah 45:2 where God declares He will make the crooked places straight, or in the promise of a renewed creation where all things are made new (Revelation 21:5).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "crooked" is 'avath (עָוַת), which can mean twisted, perverted, or distorted, implying something morally or structurally out of alignment. The phrase "cannot be made straight" (yaqan) signifies an irreversible state—it cannot be rectified or corrected by human means. Similarly, "wanting" (chasar) refers to something missing, deficient, or absent. "Cannot be numbered" (manah) suggests that what is missing is irrecoverable, immeasurable, or beyond counting, emphasizing its permanent absence or the impossibility of its restoration.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 1:15 offers several practical insights for contemporary life:

  1. Cultivate Humility: It calls us to acknowledge our limitations and accept that some things are genuinely beyond our control. This can prevent despair and frustration when faced with seemingly intractable problems.
  2. Focus on What Can Be Changed: While some things are unfixable, this verse doesn't advocate inaction. Instead, it guides us to discern what we *can* influence and what we must entrust to a higher power or accept as part of life's brokenness.
  3. Reliance on God: Ultimately, the verse highlights the need for a divine perspective and intervention. What is impossible for humans is not impossible for God. This wisdom literature points to the fact that true rectification and fulfillment come from Him, not solely from human effort, as Proverbs 16:9 also suggests regarding human plans versus divine direction.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:12

    For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:13

    Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

  • Isaiah 40:4

    Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

  • Ecclesiastes 3:14

    I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.

  • Job 11:6

    And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].

  • Matthew 6:27

    Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

  • Lamentations 3:37

    ¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not?
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