Ecclesiastes 3 17

Ecclesiastes 3:17 kjv

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 nkjv

I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."

Ecclesiastes 3:17 niv

I said to myself, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed."

Ecclesiastes 3:17 esv

I 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 3:17 nlt

I said to myself, "In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds."

Ecclesiastes 3 verses

Ecclesiastes 3 17 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 3:17 encapsulates the Preacher's profound internal resolution amidst life's perplexing observations: God will indeed administer justice, distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked. This judgment is not arbitrary but divinely purposed, destined for a specific, predetermined time for every action and endeavor under heaven. It expresses a confident theological conclusion that upholds divine order despite perceived present chaos or injustice, ensuring that ultimately, righteousness is vindicated and wickedness is held accountable.

Ecclesiastes 3 17 Context

Ecclesiastes 3:17 stands as a pivotal affirmation within the Preacher's (Koheleth's) search for meaning and satisfaction "under the sun." The verses preceding (Eccl 3:1-8) famously lay out the rhythmic cycles and contrasting realities of human experience, asserting that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Following this exposition of God's determined times, Koheleth questions what profit there is for man's toil (Eccl 3:9), noting that God has made everything beautiful in its time but has also put eternity in the human heart, preventing full comprehension of His work (Eccl 3:10-11). The Preacher acknowledges human limitation in grasping God's complete design (Eccl 3:11), and in the immediately preceding verses (Eccl 3:16), he observes the unsettling reality of injustice and wickedness in the very place of justice, indicating the fallen nature of the world. In light of this, verse 17 marks a shift, presenting Koheleth's deep, internal conviction (from 'I saw' to 'I said in my heart'). It serves as a necessary theological anchor against despair or nihilism, countering the apparent absurdity of observed injustice by appealing to a sovereign God who ensures ultimate moral order. Historically, wisdom literature often wrestled with the problem of suffering and injustice, and this verse directly addresses it by affirming divine judgment, assuring ancient audiences that God's justice prevails even when not immediately evident.

Ecclesiastes 3 17 Word analysis

• I said in my heart (אָמַרְתִּי בְּלִבִּי - āmártî bəlībbī): This phrase indicates a deep, personal conclusion or conviction, not merely an external utterance. It signifies an internal wrestling or contemplation that has arrived at a firm belief. It is the Preacher's theological response to his observations of the world.
• God (הָאֱלֹהִים - hāʼĔlōhīm): The definite article "the" preceding "God" emphasizes the one true God of Israel, distinct from any polytheistic deities or general concept of divinity. It points to the sovereign Creator and Sustainer.
• will judge (יִשְׁפֹּט - yishpōṭ): From the Hebrew verb shaphat (שָׁפָט), meaning "to judge," "to govern," "to decide," or "to administer justice." The future tense signifies certainty and inevitability. It implies a legal, righteous, and conclusive verdict.
• the righteous (הַצַּדִּיק - haṣṣaddîq): Refers to those who are morally upright, just, vindicated, and live in accordance with God's standards.
• and the wicked (וְאֶת־הָרָשָׁע - wəʼeṯ-hāRāšāʿ): Refers to those who are ungodly, evil, guilty, and disregard God's law. The pairing explicitly highlights the moral distinction that God recognizes and will act upon.
• for there is a time (כִּי־עֵת שָׁם - kî-ʻēṯ šām):
  • for (kî): Introduces the reason or justification for the Preacher's conviction.
  • there is (šām): Implies existence or certainty of what follows.
  • a time (ʻēṯ): Refers to a specific, appointed, or opportune time, connecting back to the themes of Eccl 3:1. It underscores God's sovereignty over time and His planned execution of justice.
• for every matter (לְכָל־חֵפֶץ - ləḵol-ḥēfeṣ):
  • every (kol): All-encompassing.
  • matter (ḥēfeṣ): Can mean "pleasure," "desire," "purpose," or "pursuit." Here, it likely refers to every event, desire, or purpose, emphasizing the breadth of God's jurisdiction.
• and for every work (וְעַל־כָּל־מַעֲשֶׂה - wəʻal-kol-maʻăśeh):
  • every (kol): Again, all-encompassing.
  • work (maʻăśeh): Refers to human deeds, actions, and accomplishments. This phrase together with "every matter" ensures that no aspect of life, thought, or action escapes God's future judgment.

Words-group analysis:

• "God will judge the righteous and the wicked": This is the core theological statement of the verse. It asserts divine accountability for human conduct. It is a necessary counterbalance to the apparent injustice seen in life "under the sun," where both the righteous and the wicked seem to experience similar fates.
• "for there is a time for every matter and for every work": This phrase provides the grounding for the conviction of judgment. It reiterates the theme from Ecclesiastes 3:1, emphasizing that just as there is an appointed time for all natural cycles and human actions, so too is there a divinely ordained time for God to bring ultimate justice. It assures that judgment, though delayed, is certain.

Ecclesiastes 3 17 Bonus section

The "I said in my heart" construction in Ecclesiastes 3:17 reveals the Preacher's method of grappling with difficult truths. It indicates a conclusion reached after extensive thought and observation, a theological conviction providing a stable point amidst the uncertainties of life "under the sun." This verse highlights a tension resolved in Ecclesiastes: the vanity (Hebrew: hevel, futility or breath) of earthly pursuits alone is balanced by the certainty of divine oversight and ultimate justice. This conviction is a necessary precursor to the book's final admonition to "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Eccl 12:13-14), providing a powerful ethical motivation despite the seemingly chaotic present. The understanding that there is an appointed time for judgment implies that God's patience is not an absence of justice, but rather a delay until the fitting season.

Ecclesiastes 3 17 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:17 offers a profound resolution to the Preacher's existential observations about life's perplexing nature and pervasive injustice. While acknowledging the seeming randomness of events and the immediate prosperity of the wicked alongside the struggles of the righteous (as elaborated upon in 3:16 and other parts of the book), Koheleth retreats into his deepest conviction: God, the sovereign and ultimate authority, will unequivocally judge. This isn't merely a philosophical speculation but a settled truth "in his heart," a necessary theological anchor preventing despair in a world full of paradoxes. The phrase "there is a time for every matter and for every work" ties this future judgment directly to God's precise and preordained control over all seasons of life. It provides an eschatological hope: even if justice is absent in the earthly courts, it is guaranteed in the divine one. This divine appointment ensures that moral distinctions will not ultimately be blurred; the ways of the righteous and the wicked will be fully exposed and met with their deserved recompense. It underscores the profound wisdom that even when human perception struggles to reconcile the world's chaos with God's goodness, the ultimate moral order is infallibly maintained by the Creator, who judges not merely actions, but also "every secret thing" (Eccl 12:14).