Ecclesiastes 3 1

Ecclesiastes 3:1 kjv

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 nkjv

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 niv

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 esv

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 nlt

For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3 verses

Ecclesiastes 3 1 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares the profound truth that there is an divinely appointed time and a specific occasion for every activity, purpose, and event that occurs within the earthly realm. It introduces the theme of God's universal ordering of all things, asserting His sovereignty over time and human endeavors. This foundational statement highlights that life is not chaotic or random but governed by a fixed, yet often inscrutable, divine plan and perfect timing.

Ecclesiastes 3 1 Context

Ecclesiastes 3:1 serves as the overarching thesis for the famous poem that follows (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8), where Qoheleth (the Preacher) illustrates his point with 14 pairs of antithetical activities. The preceding chapters (1-2) describe Qoheleth's extensive search for meaning and satisfaction in human wisdom, pleasure, toil, and wealth, concluding that all are "vanity" or "meaningless" when pursued "under the sun" – i.e., from a purely human, earthly perspective, separate from God.

This verse begins a pivot, not offering a solution to vanity, but exploring the human experience of time and change. It sets the stage for a reflection on divine providence and human limitation. By acknowledging an appointed time for everything, Qoheleth directs the reader's gaze beyond individual human will to a higher, universal order established by God. The broader context of Ecclesiastes seeks to guide people to fear God and keep His commandments, even when human understanding of life's complexities remains limited. This verse suggests that trusting in God's perfect timing, rather than striving fruitlessly, is part of true wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 3 1 Word analysis

• To every thing (לַכֹּל, lakkōl):

  • Original Language: From the Hebrew word kol (כֹּל), meaning "all, every, whole," combined with the preposition la (לְ), meaning "to, for."
  • Significance: Emphasizes universality. It implies that nothing is outside the scope of this divine principle. Every single event, action, or existence is subject to an appointed time. It underscores the comprehensiveness of God's sovereignty.

• there is (implicit):

  • Significance: The verb "is" is implied in the Hebrew, a common construction. This direct declaration establishes a universal truth, a state of being, rather than a recommendation or suggestion. It presents an undeniable fact.

• a season (זְמָן, zĕmân):

  • Original Language: Zeman (זְמָן) denotes a "fixed time, appointed period, definite duration, or due time." It suggests a stretch of time, a period with a beginning and an end, often set by divine decree.
  • Significance: This is a broader term for a pre-ordained span. It speaks to the set periods for different phases of life and nature, implying a fixed order to the overarching chronological progression of events.

• and a time (וְעֵת, wĕ'ēt):

  • Original Language: 'Et (עֵת) refers to an "opportune time, a fitting moment, a specific occasion, or an appropriate instance." The prefix we (וְ) is the conjunctive "and."
  • Significance: While zeman refers to a general season, 'et points to the right moment or opportunity within that season. It speaks of a specific point in time that is suitable and divinely orchestrated for a particular purpose, emphasizing not just duration but precise timeliness. The pairing of zeman and 'et highlights both the duration and the opportune moment within that duration, indicating a nuanced divine control over how long and when.

• to every purpose (לְכָל-חֵפֶץ, lĕkōl-ḥēp̄ets):

  • Original Language: ḥephets (חֵפֶץ) means "desire, pleasure, delight, business, matter, purpose, or undertaking." Combined with le-kol ("to every"), it indicates the vast scope of human endeavors and divinely orchestrated occurrences.
  • Significance: This broad term covers both what people do (their actions, labors, goals) and what happens to them (circumstances, events). It encompasses every kind of activity, intention, or occurrence under the heavens, whether humanly conceived or divinely ordained.

• under the heaven (תַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם, taḥaṯ haššāmayim):

  • Original Language: Taḥat (תַּחַת) means "under, beneath." Haššāmayim (הַשָּׁמָיִם) means "the heavens" or "the sky." This phrase frequently appears in Ecclesiastes.
  • Significance: This common phrase in Ecclesiastes denotes the earthly sphere of human existence. It contrasts with the unseen, divine realm. It implies the totality of observable life, emphasizing that all the "times and seasons" for "every purpose" are relevant to human experience and happen within the physical world, under God's watchful eye and sovereign rule.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "To every thing there is a season, and a time": This initial clause asserts the universal principle of divine timing. It posits that every single thing in creation, every event, every action, every thought even, falls under this overarching structure. The distinction between "season" (zeman) and "time" (et) further refines this: there is both an allocated period and a specific opportune moment. This implies that life's experiences are not random but operate within an ordained framework set by God.

• "to every purpose under the heaven": This second clause specifies the scope of "everything." It applies this principle of divine timing to all human "purposes" or "undertakings," reinforcing that whether a purpose is humanly initiated or divinely permitted, it unfolds within God's sovereign timetable. The phrase "under the heaven" delineates the earthly realm where humanity lives and experiences these cycles, setting the philosophical boundary of Qoheleth's observations. It also implicitly highlights God as being above the heavens, establishing this order.

Ecclesiastes 3 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew parallelism and slight repetition in "season" (זְמָן) and "time" (עֵת) serve to emphasize the completeness of God's ordering. Zeman denotes the larger, often cyclical, periods of life and nature, reflecting patterns God set (e.g., seasons of the year, stages of life). 'Et, on the other hand, speaks to the specific, opportune, or appropriate moment within that broader period (e.g., the right moment to plant, the fitting occasion for a particular act). This highlights both God's macroscopic control over grand cycles and His meticulous orchestration of specific junctures. The tension in Ecclesiastes lies between the observable divine order ("a time for everything") and humanity's struggle to fully comprehend or control this timing, leading Qoheleth to conclude that one's ultimate wisdom lies in fearing God and keeping His commandments. The verse also implicitly lays a foundation against seeking ultimate satisfaction or control in fleeting earthly matters, as even they are subject to a divine timetable beyond human manipulation.

Ecclesiastes 3 1 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:1 encapsulates one of the Bible's profound statements on God's sovereignty over the entirety of existence. The Preacher asserts that order, not chaos, undergirds all of life. There is a precise, God-appointed moment for everything—not just for major life events, but for the mundane and the momentous alike. This is not fatalism, but an affirmation of God's wisdom in establishing the cycles and opportunities that shape human experience.

The verse is an introduction to the idea that humans, while having free will in certain aspects, operate within a grand divine scheme that dictates the appropriate timing for all events. We are not truly in control of "the times and seasons." Our striving for personal control, understanding, or achievement "under the sun" is therefore ultimately vain unless it acknowledges this divine orchestration. Wisdom, then, is not in manipulating circumstances to fit our timing, but in discerning God's timing and aligning our will and actions with it. This fosters patience, contentment, and a deeper trust in the benevolent Hand that orders the universe, whether the circumstances are joyful or sorrowful, success or failure, for all have their decreed season and appointed time by the Lord.

Examples:

• Learning patience during delays, recognizing it might not be the "time" for immediate results.
• Embracing new seasons of life (marriage, parenthood, retirement) with understanding of their specific "purposes."
• Trusting in God's plan during adversity, knowing there's a "time to weep" and a "time to heal."