Ecclesiastes 7:13

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

Consider {H7200} the work {H4639} of God {H430}: for who can {H3201} make that straight {H8626}, which he hath made crooked {H5791}?

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?

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

Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:13 invites profound reflection on the nature of God's sovereignty and the limitations of human endeavor. The Preacher (Qoheleth) urges us to "Consider the work of God," immediately followed by a rhetorical question that underscores the unalterable nature of His decrees: "for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?" This verse serves as a powerful reminder of divine control over all circumstances.

Context

This verse is situated within a section of Ecclesiastes (Chapter 7) that offers various pieces of wisdom, contrasting the benefits of wisdom and sober reflection with folly and haste. The Preacher, known for his exploration of life's enigmas "under the sun," often grapples with human inability to fully grasp or control the world. Following advice on patience, sorrow, and enduring evil, verse 13 pivots to the ultimate source of all conditions: God Himself. It sets the stage for understanding that much of life's apparent inequity or difficulty is part of a divine design that humans cannot change, leading into the theme of accepting both good and bad days from God's hand (Ecclesiastes 7:14).

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The core message is God's absolute and unquestionable control over all things. What He wills or ordains, whether it appears "straight" or "crooked" from a human perspective, is fixed.
  • Human Limitations: The rhetorical question "who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?" highlights the futility of human attempts to alter God's established order or to perfect what He has purposed. This resonates with the broader theme in Ecclesiastes about human inability to fully comprehend or control life (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
  • Acceptance and Trust: Implicitly, the verse calls for a posture of humility and acceptance of God's plan, even when it seems challenging, confusing, or contrary to human desires. It encourages trust in God's ultimate wisdom, even when His ways are inscrutable.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "straight" (yašar) and "crooked" (ʿāwat) are significant. Yašar refers to what is right, upright, or level, often carrying moral connotations of rectitude. ʿĀwat means to bend, twist, or pervert. In this context, they refer to God's arrangement of events and circumstances. What God has "crooked" (made twisted or difficult) cannot be "straightened" (made right or easy) by human effort. This emphasizes that even seemingly adverse or perplexing situations are part of God's deliberate "work" or design, which humans cannot undo or correct.

Practical Application

Ecclesiastes 7:13 offers profound insights for daily living. It encourages believers to:

  • Cultivate Humility: Recognize that we are not in ultimate control and that God's plans often transcend our understanding. This fosters a spirit of submission to His divine will.
  • Find Peace in God's Control: Instead of striving against circumstances that seem "crooked," the verse encourages finding peace in the knowledge that God is sovereign over all. This can alleviate anxiety and lead to greater contentment, even amidst adversity.
  • Embrace Divine Providence: Understand that even difficulties or perceived imperfections in life's journey are part of God's intricate "work." Our role is not to "fix" God's design, but to trust in His wisdom and goodness, knowing that all things work together for good for those who love Him.

This verse ultimately calls for a deep trust in the Lord, acknowledging His supreme power and wisdom, and accepting that His ways are perfect, even when they appear otherwise to our limited human perspective. As Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

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Cross-References

  • Ecclesiastes 1:15 (9 votes)

    [That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

  • Job 12:14 (7 votes)

    Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

  • Isaiah 5:12 (5 votes)

    And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11 (5 votes)

    ¶ He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

  • Psalms 107:43 (4 votes)

    Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 14:27 (4 votes)

    For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

  • Ephesians 1:11 (4 votes)

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: