Ecclesiastes 7:28

Verse

While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

American Standard Version (1901)

which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Bible in Basic English

For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen.

Free Bible Version

Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”

King James (Authorized) Version

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Translation for Translators

and I continued to try to learn more, but I could not find all that I was searching for. But one thing that I found out was that among 1,000 people I found one righteous man, but I did not find even one righteous woman.

Unlocked Literal Bible

This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.

Noah Webster Bible

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

World English Bible

which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

Young's Literal Translation

(that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.

Context

The Limits of Human Wisdom

²⁷“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.²⁸While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.²⁹Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

Summary

This verse reflects on the author's search for wisdom, highlighting that he found one upright person among a thousand, but not a single truly wise woman. It underscores the rarity of finding individuals of true wisdom and righteousness, emphasizing the fallen nature of humanity. The verse serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking wisdom and living righteously in a world where such qualities are scarce, ultimately pointing to the need for divine guidance and grace in the pursuit of wisdom and righteousness.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Rather, referring to his past experience, "Which my soul sought further, but I found not." one man--that is, worthy of the name, "man," "upright"; not more than one in a thousand of my courtiers (Job 33:23; Psa 12:1). Jesus Christ alone of men fully realizes the perfect ideal of "man." "Chiefest among ten thousand" (Sol 5:10). No perfect "woman" has ever existed, not even the Virgin Mary. Solomon, in the word "thousand," alludes to his three hundred wives and seven hundred concubines. Among these it was not likely that he should find the fidelity which one true wife pays to one husband. Connected with Ecc 7:26, not an unqualified condemnation of the sex, as Pro 12:4; Pro 31:10, &c., prove.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not,.... He was very earnest and diligent in his inquiry; he took a great deal of pains, and was exceedingly solicitous; he sought with great intenseness of mind, and with an eager desire, to find out a chaste and virtuous woman among them all, but could not; one man among a thousand have I found; it is a great rarity to find a good man (n), truly wise and gracious; there are many that walk in the broad way, and but few that find the strait gate and narrow way, and are saved; they are but as one to a thousand; see Jer 5:1. Or rather, by this one of a thousand, is meant the, Messiah, the Wisdom of God, he sought for, Ecc 7:25; and now says he found; to whom he looked for peace, pardon, and atonement, under a sense of his sins; who is the messenger, an interpreter, one among a thousand; yea, who is the chiefest among ten thousands, Job 33:23; who is superior to angels and men, in the dignity of his person; in the perfection, purity, and holiness of his nature; in the excellency of his names; in his offices and relations; and in his concern in the affairs of grace and salvation; and who is to be found by every truly wise and gracious soul that seeks him early and earnestly, in the word and ordinances, under the illumination and direction of the blessed Spirit. If it is to be understood of a mere man, I should think the sense was this; of all the men that have been ensnared and taken by an adulterous woman, but one of a thousand have I observed, and perhaps Solomon has respect to himself, that was ever recovered out of her hands; but a woman among all those have I not found; that is, among all the harlots and adulterous women I ever knew or heard of, I never knew nor heard of one that was ever reclaimed from her evil ways, and reformed or became a chaste and virtuous woman: he may have respect to the thousand women that were either his wives and concubines, and, among all these, he found not one that deserved the above character; for this is not to be understood of women in general, for Solomon must have known that there have been good women in all ages, and perhaps more than men; and that there were many in his days, though those with whom his more intimate acquaintance was were not such, which was his unhappiness; and his criminal conversation with them is what he lamented and repented of. It may be interpreted thus, One man, the Messiah, among all the sons of men, have I found, free from original sin; but one woman, among all the daughters of Eve, I have not found clear of it. The Targum is, "there is another thing which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found; a man perfect and innocent, without corruption, from the days of Adam, till Abraham the righteous was born; who was found faithful and just among the thousand kings who were gathered together to build the tower of Babel; and a woman among all the wives of those kings, as Sarah, I found not.'' (n) "Vir bonus et sapiens, qualem vix reperit unum, millibus e multio hominum, consultus Apollo." Auson. Idyll. 16. v. 1, 2.

Ecclesiastes 7:28

The Limits of Human Wisdom

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

American Standard Version (1901)

which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Bible in Basic English

For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen.

Free Bible Version

Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”

King James (Authorized) Version

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.

Noah Webster Bible

Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

World English Bible

which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

Young's Literal Translation

(that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:28

Verse

Context

The Limits of Human Wisdom

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Ecclesiastes 7:28

The Limits of Human Wisdom

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes