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 that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. 19Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. 21Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. 22For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 word by word

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

• Indeedכִּיkîy · forH3588
• thereאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• is not a righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• on earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• doesעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and who neverלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• sinsחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:20

• 1 Kings 8:46“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;
• 2 Chronicles 6:36“When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far off or near,
• Job 15:14What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
• Psalms 130:3If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
• Psalms 143:2And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.
• Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?
• Isaiah 53:6All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
• Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
• 1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
• Isaiah 64:6For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

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