Ecclesiastes 1 · Verse 15

Ecclesiastes 1:15

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
Ecclesiastes 1:15, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 1:15 in other translations

BSBWhat is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
WEBThat which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
ASVThat which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
YLTA crooked thing one is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.
DARBYThat which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
BBEThat which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.
WebsterThat which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

What does Ecclesiastes 1:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Investigation (Ec 1:13) into human ways is vain labor, for they are hopelessly "crooked" and "cannot be made straight" by it (Ec 7:13). God, the chief good, alone can do this (Is 40:4; 45:2). wanting--(Da 5:27). numbered--so as to make a complete number; so equivalent to "supplied" [Maurer]. Or, rather, man's state is utterly wanting; and that which is wholly defective cannot be numbered or calculated. The investigator thinks he can draw up, in accurate numbers, statistics of man's wants; but these, including the defects in the investigator's labor, are not partial, but total.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight - There are many apparent irregularities and anomalies in nature for which we cannot account; and there are many defects that cannot be supplied. This is the impression from a general view of nature; but the more we study and investigate its operations, the more we shall be convinced that all is a consecutive and well-ordered whole; and that in the chain of nature not one link is broken, deficient, or lost.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 →

Ecclesiastes 1:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מְעֻוָּ֖תme.'u.Vat[something] bentH5791
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יוּכַ֣לyu.Khalit is ableH3201
לִתְקֹ֑ןlit.Konto become straightH8626
וְחֶסְר֖וֹןve.ches.Ronand something missingH2642
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יוּכַ֥לyu.Khalit is ableH3201
לְהִמָּנֽוֹת\׃le.hi.ma.Notto be numberedH4487

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 1:15

  • Ecclesiastes 7:12-13

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

  • Matthew 6:27

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

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • Lamentations 3:37

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

  • Job 34:29

    When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

  • 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.

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
crooked.
3:14; 7:12,13; Job 11:6; 34:29; Isa 40:4; La 3:37; Da 4:35; Mt 6:27
wanting. Heb. defect.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:15

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

  • Ecclesiastes 1:16

    I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Lo torcido no se puede enderezar; y lo falto no puede contarse.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ce qui est tordu ne peut être redressé, et ce qui manque ne peut être compté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Krumme kann nicht gerade werden, und das Fehlende kann nicht gezählt werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Perversi difficile corriguntur, et stultorum infinitus est numerus.