Why does Ecclesiastes 7:28 mention finding "one upright man" but not a woman? Canonical Text “Though my soul has searched repeatedly, I have not found: I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.” (Ecclesiastes 7:28) Immediate Literary Context Ecclesiastes 7 forms part of Solomon’s extended discourse on the futility of human effort apart from God. The section (7:23-29) records the Preacher’s confessions of limited wisdom. Verse 20 has already declared the universal lack of absolute righteousness: “Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Verse 29 concludes that mankind’s collective problem is self-devised “schemes,” not gender. Genre and Rhetorical Strategy Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature that frequently employs hyperbole (“one among a thousand”) and comparative proverb to jolt readers into reflection. Solomon contrasts the rare occurrence of genuine uprightness with the overwhelming presence of folly, using gendered imagery drawn from his personal setting rather than making a theological statement about women in general. Historical-Cultural Setting Solomon’s palace contained “seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3). Royal marriages were largely political, and these alliances “turned his heart” from the LORD. Solomon’s sample size was skewed toward idolatrous court politics, not the everyday Israelite household where women such as Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, and Abigail modeled covenant fidelity. Interpretive Options 1. Hyperbolic Scarcity: The phrase “one man… not one woman” magnifies the overall rarity of righteousness; gender contrast intensifies the point. 2. Autobiographical Confession: Solomon admits failure to find godly female counsel within his harem culture, a self-indictment rather than a universal verdict. 3. Wisdom Convention: Ancient Near-Eastern sages sometimes set up contrasting pairs (cf. Proverbs 7) to warn against folly; here the “woman” functions symbolically for temptation, echoing the harlot motif, without condemning womankind itself. Canonical Testimony regarding Women’s Righteousness Scripture elsewhere commends female virtue: • Proverbs 31’s “woman of valor” whose “worth is far more than rubies.” • Ruth is hailed as “a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11). • Mary of Bethany, the Samaritan woman, Lydia, Priscilla—New Testament witnesses to female discipleship. Therefore, the Bible’s full counsel refutes the idea that God devalues women. Theological Synthesis 1. Universal Depravity: Ecclesiastes 7:28 underscores Romans 3:10—“There is no one righteous, not even one.” 2. Christological Fulfillment: Only in the resurrected Christ is perfect uprightness found; male and female alike receive salvation by grace (Galatians 3:28). 3. Purpose Statement: The verse drives readers to acknowledge humanity’s inability and to seek redemption in the Messiah. Practical and Pastoral Implications • Guard against selective proof-texting; consult whole-Bible revelation. • Recognize context when mentoring skeptics: Solomon’s disillusionment mirrors modern cynicism, pointing to the need for a Savior. • Affirm women’s equal value and gospel calling while acknowledging the cultural limitations of Solomon’s era. Summary Ecclesiastes 7:28 is a poetic hyperbole drawn from Solomon’s flawed personal experience, designed to spotlight the near-universal absence of righteousness. The verse neither degrades women nor establishes doctrinal hierarchy; it magnifies human fallenness and prepares hearts for the singular Upright One—Jesus Christ—through whom men and women alike are restored to God’s original design. |
    |