To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
What does Ecclesiastes 3:1 mean?
To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:1
g. his own, Ecclesiastes 2:1-8 ) and events which happen to people, the world of Providence rather than the world of creation. It would seem that most of his own works described in Ecclesiastes 2:1-8 were present to his mind. The rare word translated "season" means emphatically "fitting time" (compare Nehemiah 2:6 ; Esther 9:27 , Esther 9:31 ).
Context in Ecclesiastes 3
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Ecclesiastes 3 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as prologue and the vanity theme. Ecclesiastes examines toil, pleasure, wisdom, time, death, and the elusiveness of gain, then counsels reverent realism under God. Read this chapter with the wider themes of vanity, time, and death in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.
Bible verses about death and dying
Passages on mortality, the reality of death, comfort in bereavement, resurrection hope, and the defeat of death through Christ.
Who quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1?
Find out who used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1?
Pete Seeger used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in Turn! Turn! Turn!.
Lyndon B. Johnson used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in Remarks at the Annual Swedish Day Picnic.
American Presidency Project: LBJ at the Swedish Day Picnic »
The Byrds used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in Turn! Turn! Turn!.
Jimmy Carter used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in Toasts Honoring Sadat and Begin.
American Presidency Project: Carter toast for the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty »
Ronald Reagan used Ecclesiastes 3:1 in Remarks at the Memorial Service for Edith Luckett Davis.
American Presidency Project: Reagan memorial remarks for Edith Luckett Davis »
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «to every thing there is a season»):