Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 in other translations
| BSB | To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: |
|---|---|
| WEB | For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: |
| ASV | For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: |
| YLT | To everything--a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens: |
| DARBY | To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens: |
| BBE | For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun. |
| Webster | To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: |
What does Ecclesiastes 3:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Every thing has its time and season, Ecc 3:1-8. Men are exercised with labor, Ecc 3:9, Ecc 3:10. Every thing is beautiful in its season, Ecc 3:11. Men should enjoy thankfully the gifts of God, Ecc 3:12, Ecc 3:13. What God does is for ever, Ecc 3:14. There is nothing new, Ecc 3:15. The corruption of judgment; but the judgments of God are right, Ecc 3:16, Ecc 3:17. Man is brutish, and men and brutes die in like manner, Ecc 3:18-21. Man may enjoy the fruit of his own labors, Ecc 3:22. Verse 1 To 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. 1. 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. 2. God has given to man that portion of duration called Time; the space in which all the operations of nature, of animals, and intellectual beings, are carried on; but while nature is steady in its course, and animals faithful to their instincts, man devotes it to a great variety of purposes; but very frequently to that for which God never made time, space, or opportunity. And all we can say, when an evil deed is done, is, there was a time in which it was done, though God never made it for that purpose. To say any farther on this subject is needless, as the words themselves give in general their own meaning. The Jews, it is true, see in these times and seasons all the events of their own nation, from the birth of Abraham to the present times; and as to fathers and their followers, they see all the events and states of the Christian Church in them! It is worthy of remark, that in all this list there are but two things which may be said to be done generally by the disposal of God, and in which men can have but little influence: the time of birth, and the time of death. But all the others are left to the option of man, though God continues to overrule them by his providence. The following paraphrase will explain all that is necessary to be generally understood: -Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:1-10
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Ecclesiastes 3:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Ecclesiastes 3:1
- Ecclesiastes 3:17
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.
- Matthew 16:3
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
- Ecclesiastes 8:5-6
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
- Ecclesiastes 7:14
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
- 2 Kings 5:26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
- Proverbs 15:23
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
- 2 Chronicles 33:12
And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
- Ecclesiastes 2:3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
- Ecclesiastes 1:13
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11 There is an excellency in God's works.
16 But as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast.
every thing.
17; 7:14; 8:5,6; 2Ki 5:26; 2Ch 33:12; Pr 15:23; Mt 16:3
under.
1:13; 2:3,17
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
- Ecclesiastes 3:2
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 3:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | PARA todas las cosas hay sazón, y todo lo que se quiere debajo del cielo, tiene su tiempo: |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Il y a une saison pour tout, et il y a un temps pour toute affaire sous les cieux. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Alles hat eine bestimmte Zeit, und jedes Vornehmen unter dem Himmel hat seine Zeit. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Omnia tempus habent, et suis spatiis transeunt universa sub cælo. |