Ecclesiastes 3:2 kjv
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecclesiastes 3:2 nkjv
A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
Ecclesiastes 3:2 niv
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Ecclesiastes 3:2 esv
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
Ecclesiastes 3:2 nlt
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Cross References
(h2)
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 31:15 | My times are in your hand... | God's sovereignty over life's duration. |
| Psa 39:4-5 | Make me to know my end and the measure of my days... | Recognition of life's brevity. |
| Psa 90:10, 12 | The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty... | Acknowledgment of limited lifespan. |
| Psa 104:29 | When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. | God's power over life and death. |
| Psa 139:16 | Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me... | Predestination of life's length. |
| Job 14:5 | Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass. | Divine decree for the span of life. |
| Gen 2:7 | then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life... | The act of life-giving by God. |
| Gen 3:19 | By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. | Inevitability of physical death due to sin. |
| Deut 30:19 | I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse... | Choice of life, yet death remains. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. | God's comprehensive sovereignty. |
| Hab 2:3 | For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. | Reference to divine timing for events. |
| John 10:27-28 | My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. | Sovereignty over spiritual life and eternal security. |
| John 11:25-26 | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live..." | Jesus's triumph over death for believers. |
| Acts 17:26 | And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place... | God determines existence and lifespan of nations/individuals. |
| Rom 5:12 | Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— | Origin of death through sin. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Consequence of sin and gift of eternal life. |
| Rom 14:8 | For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. | Belonging to the Lord in life and death. |
| Heb 9:27 | And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment... | Appointed nature of death for all humanity. |
| Jas 4:14 | Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. | Ephemeral nature of human life. |
| Rev 1:18 | and the living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. | Christ's authority over death. |
Ecclesiastes 3 verses
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Meaning
(h2)
Ecclesiastes 3:2 reveals the sovereign, ordained rhythm of life and death as divinely appointed and outside human control. It establishes that there is a precise, God-given time and season for the most fundamental events of existence: entering the world through birth and departing from it through death. This truth emphasizes human finitude, God's ultimate authority, and the inherent unpredictability of life "under the sun" from a human perspective, yet within a fixed divine order.
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Context
(h2)
Ecclesiastes, attributed to "Qoheleth" (the Preacher), explores the meaning of life "under the sun" – that is, from a human perspective, apart from overt divine revelation concerning eternity. Chapter 3 begins a celebrated poem asserting that for everything in life, there is an "appointed time" (`êt, עֵת) under God's ultimate sovereignty. This list of fourteen contrasting pairs (twenty-eight in total) illustrates the inescapable, divinely ordained cycles and circumstances of human existence, both good and challenging. The initial pair in verse 2, "a time to be born and a time to die," serves as the fundamental boundary markers for all other human activities, setting the stage for Qoheleth's ongoing argument about the futility (hevel) of seeking ultimate meaning in earthly pursuits alone. It highlights that even the most pivotal events of life are outside human control, underscoring the limitations of human endeavor and the ultimate authority of God, though His grand design may seem obscured "under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Word analysis
(h2)
A time (עֵת, `êt): This Hebrew word refers to a specific, appointed, or appropriate moment; a set season. It is not merely an arbitrary period but an ordained juncture in the divine sequence of events. Its repetition throughout Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 emphasizes a divinely established rhythm and purpose for every facet of life, often outside human foresight or choice. It implies predetermination.
to be born (לָלֶדֶת, lālēḏêt): The infinitive form of the verb yalad (ילד), meaning "to bear, bring forth, be born." This passive construction "to be born" (rather than "to give birth") underscores that birth is an event that happens to an individual, rather than an act of their own volition. It signifies the commencement of individual physical existence, ordained by God.
and (וְ, we): A simple conjunctive, linking the two primary poles of human existence – beginning and end. It emphasizes the inseparable pairing and the sequence of these foundational events.
a time (עֵת, `êt): Repeated for emphasis, reiterating that death, like birth, is not a random occurrence but takes place at a divinely determined moment.
to die (לָמוּת, lāmût): The infinitive form of the verb mût (מות), meaning "to die, perish." Like "to be born," this passive construction emphasizes that death is an event that happens to individuals, ultimately beyond their power to prevent or delay indefinitely. It signifies the conclusion of physical life.
"A time to be born and a time to die": This phrase establishes the foundational antithesis for the entire poetic passage (vv. 2-8). It signifies the ultimate boundaries of human existence on earth, decreed by a higher power. It subtly yet directly challenges any human notion of self-sufficiency or ultimate control over life's most fundamental events. In a world where ancient peoples often sought to manipulate fate or divine favor, this verse firmly posits divine sovereignty over life and death. The contrast serves as a powerful reminder of humanity's transient nature and God's absolute authority, the Creator establishing the entry and exit points for His creation. This polemical aspect implicitly critiques humanistic or fatalistic worldviews by anchoring both genesis and cessation in a divine timetable.
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Bonus section
(h2)
The seemingly passive voice "to be born" and "to die" in the Hebrew underscores human powerlessness over these pivotal moments, further emphasizing God's omnipotence and control. This particular pairing can be seen as an early philosophical engagement with existential questions that later wisdom traditions, both inside and outside the Bible, would explore. For the original Hebrew audience, deeply rooted in a monotheistic worldview, this verse reinforced YHWH's absolute control, implicitly contrasting with pagan deities associated with specific aspects of life and death, but never holding universal sway over both simultaneously. Qoheleth, through this list, guides the reader to embrace life's appointed seasons rather than to fret over that which cannot be changed. The acceptance of fixed times is part of finding wisdom and potentially, contentment amidst the "vanity" of life's unfulfilling pursuits. This verse, and the subsequent list, encourages a thoughtful engagement with life as it is, under God's unseen, yet undeniable, hand.
Ecclesiastes 3 2 Commentary
(h2)
Ecclesiastes 3:2, though simple in its phrasing, carries profound theological weight. It serves as the opening pair in Qoheleth's poetic demonstration of divine sovereignty over all human affairs. The fixed, appointed times for birth and death signify that these most crucial transitions in human existence are not arbitrary or subject to human will, but are orchestrated by God. This perspective inherently frames life within divine boundaries, asserting that neither our beginning nor our end is ultimately in our hands. The "time to be born" highlights the miracle of life's initiation, while the "time to die" points to its inevitable conclusion for all mortals due to the curse of sin. Far from being a fatalistic pronouncement, it is an acknowledgment of God's overarching plan that embraces both existence and cessation, compelling humanity to recognize its dependence on Him rather than to strive for ultimate control "under the sun." The profound contrast underscores human fragility and finitude within a divinely ordered cosmos.
- Example: A parent cherishes a newborn, recognizing the miracle of a new life; simultaneously, families mourn losses, understanding the reality of life's conclusion. Both are recognized as part of a larger, divinely ordered pattern.
- Example: Despite advancements in medicine extending lifespans, the ultimate time to die remains a fixed reality for every individual, highlighting the limitations of human ingenuity against divine appointment.