Ecclesiastes 7:13

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

רְאֵה אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂה הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי מִי יוּכַל לְתַקֵּן אֵת אֲשֶׁר עִוְּתוֹ

Transliteration

Rəʾēh ʾeṯ-maʿăśēh the-ʾĕlōhîm kî who yûḵal lə-taqqēn ʾēṯ that ʿiwwəṯô

Grammar Details

• *Rəʾēh*: Qal imperative masculine singular - see/observe
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *maʿăśēh*: noun, masculine singular construct - work of
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the God
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *yûḵal*: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - is able
• *lə-taqqēn*: Piel infinitive construct with preposition - to straighten
• *ʾēṯ*: direct object marker
• *ʿiwwəṯô*: Piel perfect 3rd masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - he has made crooked

Word Meanings

• *Rəʾēh*: see/observe/consider
• *maʿăśēh*: work/deed/action
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/divine being
• *yûḵal*: is able/can/has power
• *lə-taqqēn*: to straighten/to make right/to correct
• *ʿiwwəṯô*: he has made crooked/he has bent

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 1:15 : 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
• Job 12:14 : 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
• Isa 14:27 : 27 For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
• Isa 46:10-11 : 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; 11 calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
• Rom 9:19 : 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
• Eph 1:11 : 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;
• Dan 4:35 : 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
• Rom 9:15 : 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
• Isa 43:13 : 13 Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?
• Job 34:29 : 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:
• Job 37:14 : 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
• Ps 8:3 : 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
• Ps 107:43 : 43 Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah.
• Eccl 3:11 : 11 He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
• Isa 5:12 : 12 And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are [in] their feasts; but they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands.
• Job 9:12 : 12 Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
• Job 11:10 : 10 If he pass through, and shut up, And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?