Ecclesiastes 7:29 Meaning and Explanation
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The one clear conclusion the Preacher reaches: God made humanity upright, but people have devised many crooked ways of their own.
What Does Ecclesiastes 7:29 Mean?
After all his searching, the Preacher arrives at a single firm finding, marked by 'Lo' and 'this only.' It is the summary of the chapter: the fault is not in the Maker. God made humanity 'upright' — straight, good, as intended.
The crookedness came from the 'many inventions' people sought out for themselves, turning from the straight path God set. This both honors God's good design and locates the trouble honestly in human choices. It leaves the reader looking back to a good beginning and forward to redemption, for the God who made us upright is the One who restores the upright way in Christ.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 in the Original Language
yashar (יָשָׁר), 'upright' -- straight, level, morally right, as God first made humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 7:29
What does Ecclesiastes 7:29 mean?
The one clear conclusion the Preacher reaches: God made humanity upright, but people have devised many crooked ways of their own.