Ecclesiastes — Chapter 3

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1To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

9What does the worker gain from his toil?

10I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,

13and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.

14I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

15What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

21Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?

22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17I 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.

18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

1For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven:

2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?

10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

11He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

15That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

16And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts.

19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?

22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?

1For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6a time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

7a time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

10I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

11God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

12I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

14I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

15Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

16I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

17I thought to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.”

18I also thought to myself, “It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

20Both go to the same place; both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

21Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?”

22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

10I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

16Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

18I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

19For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

22Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

The Preacher opens with a poem cataloging the appointed seasons of life — birth and death, planting and uprooting, weeping and laughing, war and peace — showing that God has fitted a proper time to every human activity (vv. 1-8). He affirms that God makes everything fitting in its season and has placed a sense of eternity in the human heart, yet in a way that keeps people from grasping the full scope of His work from start to finish (vv. 9-11). Because that scope stays hidden, he concludes the best course is to rejoice, do good, and enjoy the fruit of one's labor as God's gift, since what God does is fixed and unchangeable and meant to inspire reverence (vv. 12-14). Even where courts should render justice, he sees wickedness instead, yet trusts that God will judge both the righteous and the wicked in His own time (vv. 15-17). He closes by noting that people and animals share the same breath and the same end in the dust, leaving it uncertain to human eyes where each one's spirit goes — so a person's best portion is simply to enjoy their own work (vv. 18-22).

Authorship & Background

Author: 'The Preacher' (Qoheleth), traditionally identified as Solomon. Written late in life as a reflection on life's meaning. Hebrew title: 'Qoheleth' — 'The Assembler/Preacher.'
Classification: Wisdom Literature
Key Themes: Fourteen pairs of opposites nobody chooses, eternity set in the human heart without the ability to see the whole, injustice observed rather than explained, and death levelling man with beast
Historical Context: Chapter 3 contains the most famous poem in Ecclesiastes — perhaps the most famous in all wisdom literature: "To every thing there is a season" (vv.1-8). This fourteen-pair poem of opposites was set to music in the 1960s ("Turn! Turn! Turn!") but its original context is far more profound than popular culture suggests. The poem is not a celebration of life's variety but a meditation on human helplessness before God's sovereign timing. Humanity cannot choose when to be born or die, when war comes or peace arrives. The Preacher then turns to the great theological questions: God has set "eternity" (olam) in the human heart (v.11), yet we cannot comprehend His works from beginning to end. The chapter wrestles with the apparent injustice of life (v.16), affirms coming judgment (v.17), and confronts the disturbing similarity between human and animal death (vv.18-21). The conclusion is again humble enjoyment as one's "portion" (v.22).
The Poem of Times and Seasons (vv.1-8): Fourteen pairs of opposites, the most quoted lines in the book and the most misread. Set to music in the 1960s as an anthem of variety, the poem is actually about helplessness — nobody chooses their time to be born or die, and no one votes on when war comes. A time to kill and a time to heal sit in the same list as planting and harvest. The point is that the times are appointed and not by us.
Eternity in the Heart (vv.9-15): The question of 1:3 returns, and then the verse that most complicates the book: God hath made every thing beautiful in his time, and hath set the world — or eternity — in their heart, yet so that no man can find out the work of God from beginning to end. Humans are given a sense of the whole and denied the view of it. That gap is where the book's frustration actually lives, and it is described as God's doing.
The Problem of Injustice (vv.16-17): He looks at the place of judgment and finds wickedness there, which is the worst place to find it. His response is not a solution but a deferral: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose. The poem's logic of appointed times is applied to justice, which puts the resolution outside the observable world.
Man and Beast Alike (vv.18-22): The hardest passage in the chapter. Man and beast have one breath, both go to dust, and he asks who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward. The question is left open rather than answered, and the chapter's closing counsel follows from the openness rather than despite it: there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that the poem of vv.1-8 presents 28 "times" (14 pairs of opposites) — the number 7 multiplied by 4, suggesting completeness. These are not choices but realities imposed upon us — we do not choose when to be born or die, when to weep or laugh. The poem is humbling: we are not in control of life's major events. Yet v.11 adds the crucial theological dimension: God makes everything beautiful "in his time" — what seems meaningless or cruel now will be revealed as beautiful in God's eternal perspective.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Ecclesiastes 3 - Bible Study and Explanation in 5 Minute
2BeLikeChrist

Ecclesiastes 2-3 - Time, Eternity, and Despair
David Guzik

Ecclesiastes 3:16-6:11 | To Dust We Will Return | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Ecclesiastes -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Seasons You Don't Get to Choose (vv.1-8) — Birth and death, planting and uprooting, war and peace all arrive on a timetable that isn't up to us. Where are you fighting a season instead of trusting the One who appointed it?
  • An Ache for More Than "Under the Sun" (v.11) — God has made everything fitting for its time and placed a sense of eternity in the human heart, even though no one can grasp the full scope of His work. Does the restlessness you feel point you toward God, or toward whatever's next on your list?
  • Waiting on Justice That Feels Delayed (vv.16-17) — The Preacher sees wickedness standing where justice should be, yet holds onto the certainty that God has appointed a time to judge every act. When you watch wrong go unanswered, what keeps you trusting that accounts will eventually be settled?
  • The Humbling Reminder That You Will Die (vv.18-21) — He points out that humans and animals share the same breath and the same end, a comparison meant to strip away pride rather than cause despair. How would remembering your mortality change what you chase today?
  • Receiving Today's Work as Your Portion (v.22) — Since no one can see what will happen after them, the Preacher concludes the best a person can do is find joy in the work right in front of them. Are you withholding joy from today's task while you wait for a future you can't guarantee?