Ecclesiastes 1:15 kjv

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

Ecclesiastes 1:15 nkjv

What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 niv

What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 esv

What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 nlt

What is wrong cannot be made right.
What is missing cannot be recovered.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 15 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 1:15 conveys Qoheleth's observation that certain fundamental imperfections and deficiencies in life, which he encounters "under the sun," cannot be remedied or compensated for by human wisdom, effort, or intervention. "What is crooked" refers to inherent distortions, injustices, or irremediable wrongs. "Cannot be made straight" signifies the utter human inability to correct or undo these fixed realities. "What is lacking" points to profound absences or unfillable voids. "Cannot be counted" highlights that these deficiencies are either beyond quantification or impossible to replenish, remaining permanently unfulfilled. It emphasizes the limitations of human capacity within a fallen and finite existence, setting a stage for the vanity of all endeavors apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 1 15 Context

Ecclesiastes 1:15 is situated early in Qoheleth’s exploration of life's meaning "under the sun" – that is, life from a purely human perspective, without direct revelation of the afterlife or full understanding of divine purposes. The preceding verses introduce the concept of "vanity" or hebel, highlighting the repetitive cycles of nature and human striving, both of which seem to lead to no lasting profit. Qoheleth has observed that human wisdom and effort, even with all their apparent advantages, ultimately fail to provide ultimate meaning or satisfaction, often leading to more grief and vexation. This verse directly follows his reflection on the futility of increasing wisdom (Ecc 1:12-14) and reinforces the notion that even with the greatest knowledge, humans are incapable of rectifying the world’s fundamental brokenness or filling its inherent gaps. It sets a pessimistic tone regarding human capabilities in a flawed world.

Ecclesiastes 1 15 Word analysis

• What is crooked (מְעֻוָּת - mə‘uvvāṯ): This is a passive participle from the root עות ('awath), meaning to bend, twist, or distort. It often carries moral connotations of perverting justice or truth. Here, it refers to intrinsic flaws, irregularities, injustices, or deep-seated moral or existential deviations present in life or creation that cannot be undone by human means. It signifies something inherently out of joint or corrupted.
• cannot be made straight (לֹא יוּכַל לִתְקֹן - lōʾ yuḵal liṯqōn): The phrase "cannot be able" (lōʾ yuḵal) strongly negates human capability. The verb תָּקַן (taqan) means to set right, adjust, or make straight. This indicates that humanity lacks the power or capacity to rectify, fix, or restore these fundamental distortions. It highlights an unalterable reality from a human standpoint, emphasizing impotence.
• and what is lacking (וְחֶסְרוֹן - wəḥesrōn): The conjunctive waw (and) introduces a parallel observation. Chesron (חֶסְרוֹן) is a noun meaning deficiency, deficit, or something missing. It stems from the verb חָסֵר (chaser), meaning to lack, decrease, or be absent. This refers to gaps, voids, lost opportunities, or things that simply do not exist in life as one would hope.
• cannot be counted (לֹא יוּכַל לְהִמָּנוֹת - lōʾ yuḵal ləhimmānōṯ): This again employs the strong negation "cannot be able." The verb מָנָה (manah) means to count, number, or reckon. In its passive form (ləhimmānōt), it means "to be numbered" or "to be accounted for." This implies that the missing parts are either unquantifiable because their absence is total and intangible, or they are irretrievably lost, rendering any attempt to enumerate, compensate, or replenish them futile. They are unfillable voids by human endeavor.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "What is crooked cannot be made straight": This phrase speaks to the irreversibility of certain wrongs, inherent defects, or profound moral/existential distortions within creation or human affairs. It sets a clear boundary on human power and wisdom in achieving perfect justice or reformation, pointing to fundamental limitations in correcting past actions or intrinsic flaws.
  • "and what is lacking cannot be counted": This parallel statement highlights irretrievable loss or inherent incompleteness. It's not a mere deficit that can be inventoried and filled, but an absolute void or permanent absence that human effort cannot even fully quantify, let alone make whole or bring back into existence. These two observations together articulate Qoheleth's profound conviction about the permanent deficiencies and unfixable aspects of life when viewed solely from an earthly perspective, underscoring human limitations.

Ecclesiastes 1 15 Bonus section

The verse establishes a core premise of Qoheleth's philosophical journey: human striving for ultimate meaning, control, or perfection in life is inherently frustrated because key aspects of existence are unfixable and incomplete from a human vantage point. While not explicitly theological in this single verse, it implicitly prepares the reader for the eventual understanding that divine agency alone possesses the power to truly "make straight" and "fill" what is fundamentally askew or wanting in the world. This insight serves to counter any belief in inherent human progress being able to perfect existence without divine intervention, subtly leading to the need for God’s redemptive power over a fallen creation.

Ecclesiastes 1 15 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:15 is a foundational declaration of human impotence in the face of life’s inherent flaws and deficiencies. Qoheleth, through his lens of observation "under the sun," posits that some fundamental imperfections—whether manifest as moral wrongs, societal injustices, or inherent design flaws in existence—are simply beyond humanity's ability to rectify or account for. The "crookedness" signifies deep-seated perversions that cannot be made truly straight by human effort or wisdom, implying irreversible damage or a nature resistant to mere reform. The "lacking" refers to profound, unfillable voids or irretrievable losses that no amount of human ingenuity, striving, or accounting can bring into being or compensate for. This verse serves as a critical point, systematically dismantling the notion that increasing wisdom, knowledge, or effort can ultimately bring perfect order, satisfaction, or wholeness to a fallen world. It underscores the pervasive hebel (vanity/futility) that accompanies all human-centric pursuits aimed at self-sufficiency, ultimately pointing toward the necessity of looking beyond human capacity for true rectification and fulfillment.