Ecclesiastes 7 · Verse 20

Ecclesiastes 7:20

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ecclesiastes 7:20, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:20 in other translations

BSBSurely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
WEBSurely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
ASVSurely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
YLTBecause there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.
DARBYSurely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
BBEThere is no man on earth of such righteousness that he does good and is free from sin all his days.
WebsterFor there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

What does Ecclesiastes 7:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Referring to Ec 7:16. Be not "self-righteous," seek not to make thyself "just" before God by a superabundance of self-imposed performances; "for true 'wisdom,' or 'righteousness,' shows that there is not a just man," &c.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not - לא יחטא lo yechta, that may not sin. There is not a man upon earth, however just he may be, and habituated to do good, but is peccable - liable to commit sin; and therefore should continually watch and pray, and depend upon the Lord. But the text does not say, the just man does commit sin, but simply that he may sin; and so our translators have rendered it in 1Sam 2:25, twice in 1Kgs 8:31, 1Kgs 8:46, and 2Chr 6:36; and the reader is requested to consult the note on 1Kgs 8:46, where the proper construction of this word may be found, and the doctrine in question is fully considered.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:11-22

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 7:11-22 →

Ecclesiastes 7:20 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.

כִּ֣יkiforH3588
אָדָ֔ם'a.Dama personH120
אֵ֥ין'einthere notH369
צַדִּ֖יקtza.Dik[is] righteous [person]H6662
בָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzon the earthH776
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhoH834
יַעֲשֶׂה\־ya.'a.seh-he doesH6213
טּ֖וֹבTovgoodH2896
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יֶחֱטָֽא\׃ye.che.Ta'he sinsH2398

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

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 7:20

  • Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • 1 John 1:8-10

    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  • James 3:2

    For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

  • Proverbs 20:9

    Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

  • 1 Kings 8:46

    If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

  • Job 15:14-16

    What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

  • Isaiah 64:6

    But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:36

    If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

  • Psalms 143:2

    And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

  • Psalms 130:3

    If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there.
1Ki 8:46; 2Ch 6:36; Job 15:14-16; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Pr 20:9
Isa 53:6; Ro 3:23; Jas 3:2; 1Jo 1:8-10
doeth.
Isa 64:6

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

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 7:19

    Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20

    For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:21

    Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ciertamente no hay hombre justo en la tierra, que haga bien y nunca peque.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Certes, il n’y a pas d’homme juste sur la terre qui ait fait le bien et qui n’ait pas péché.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn unter den Menschen ist kein Gerechter auf Erden, der Gutes tue und nicht sündige.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;