The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 7:13 Explained

Ecclesiastes 7:13

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

YLT: See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

Darby: Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 7:13 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 7

1  remedies against vanity are, a good name
2  mortification
7  patience
11  wisdom
23  The difficulty of wisdom

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 7:13 mean?

Consider - the work of God for who can make straight - what He has made crooked
רְאֵ֖ה אֶת־ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לְתַקֵּ֔ן אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר ؟ עִוְּתֽוֹ

רְאֵ֖ה  Consider 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה  the  work 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יוּכַל֙  can 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לְתַקֵּ֔ן  make  straight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: תָּקַן  
Sense: to equalise, make straight, become straight.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ עִוְּתֽוֹ  He  has  made  crooked 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָוַת  
Sense: to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert.