Ecclesiastes 3:1

Ecclesiastes 3:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
• New International Version (NIV)There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
• New King James Version (NKJV)To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
• New Living Translation (NLT)For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Context of Ecclesiastes 3:1

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

Ecclesiastes 3:1 word by word

לַכֹּ֖ל זְמָ֑ן וְעֵ֥ת לְכָל־חֵ֖פֶץ תַּ֥חַת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• a seasonזְמָ֑ןzemân · timeH2165
• and a timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• to every purposeחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656
• under the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:1

• Ecclesiastes 3:17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.
• Ecclesiastes 7:14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
• 2 Kings 5:26But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
• 2 Chronicles 33:12And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
• Proverbs 15:23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
• Matthew 16:3And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
• Ecclesiastes 1:13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose - Two general remarks may be made on the first eight verses of this chapter. God by his providence governs the world, and has determined particular things and operations to particular times. In those times such things may be done with propriety and success; but if we neglect the appointed seasons, we sin against this providence, and become the authors of our own distresses. God has given to man…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Everything - More particularly, the actions of people (e. g. his own, Ecclesiastes 2:1-8) and events which happen to people, the world of Providence rather than the world of creation. It would seem that most of his own works described in Ecclesiastes 2:1-8 were present to his mind. The rare word translated “season” means emphatically “fitting time” (compare Nehemiah 2:6; Esther 9:27, Esther 9:31).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The changes of human affairs. (Eccl. 3:1-10) The Divine counsels unchangeable. (Eccl. 3:11-15) The vanity of worldly power. (Eccl. 3:16-22) Verses 1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: Wisdom knows that everything has its own time. Both in human activities and in nature (see Ecclesiastes 1:3–7). A wise person knows when to start any activity (Ecclesiastes 8:5). Opportunities do not last long (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Ec 3:1-22. Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Ec 3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good (Ec 3:9, 10); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends (Ec 3:11). God allows man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts (Ec 3:12, 13). What consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Dance
• Judge
• Providence
• Sirach, Book of
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3

• 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