Ecclesiastes 7:20

Ecclesiastes 7:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
• New International Version (NIV)Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:20

18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings. 19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city. Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 word by word

כִּ֣י אָדָ֔ם אֵ֥ין צַדִּ֖יק בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂה־טּ֖וֹב וְלֹ֥א יֶחֱטָֽא׃Read the interlinear

• Surelyכִּיkîy · forH3588
• there is noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• on earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• doesעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and neverלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• sinsחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:20

• 1 Kings 8:46When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
• 2 Chronicles 6:36When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,
• Job 15:14What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
• Psalms 130:3If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
• Psalms 143:2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
• Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
• Isaiah 53:6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
• Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
• 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• Isaiah 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not - יחטא לא 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 1 Samuel 2:25, twice in 1…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The connection of this verse with Ecclesiastes 7:18-19 becomes clearer if it is borne in mind that the fear of God, wisdom, and justice, are merely different sides of one and the same character, the formation of which is the aim of all the precepts in this chapter. The words “just” Ecclesiastes 7:15, Ecclesiastes 7:20 and “righteous” Ecclesiastes 7:16 are exactly the same in Hebrew.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 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 into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20no righteous man...never sins: See 1 Kings 8:46; Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:23.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:20

• Depravity of Man
• Perfection
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Sanctification
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings