Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

[1] To every thing there is a season,  and a time  to every purpose  under the heaven:  [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;  [3] A time  to kill,  and a time  to heal;  a time  to break down,  and a time  to build up;  [4] A time  to weep,  and a time  to laugh;  a time  to mourn,  and a time  to dance;  [5] A time  to cast away  stones,  and a time  stones  together;  a time  to embrace,  and a time  to refrain  from embracing;  [6] A time  to get,  and a time  to lose;  a time  to keep,  and a time  to cast away;  [7] A time  to rend,  and a time  to sew;  a time  to keep silence,  and a time  to speak;  [8] A time  to love,  and a time  to hate;  a time  of war,  and a time  of peace. 

What does Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

As is customary in Ecclesiastes , the writer began this section by stating a thesis ( Ecclesiastes 3:1). He then proceeded to illustrate and to prove it true ( Ecclesiastes 3:2-8). "Event" ( Ecclesiastes 3:1) means human activity that one engages in by deliberate choice. Each of these events has its proper time and duration.
"Qohelet now raises a subject characteristic of ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature-the proper time. After all, it is the wise person who knows the right time to say or to do the right thing ( Proverbs 15:23). ... In the final analysis Qohelet powerfully expresses that everything is frustratingly out of the control of human beings." [1]
Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 are a poem in which the preacher listed14opposites.
"The fact that Solomon utilized polar opposites in a multiple of seven and began his list with birth and death is highly significant. The number seven suggests the idea of completeness and the use of polar opposites-a well-known poetic device called merism-suggests totality (cf. Psalm 139:2-3)." [2]
The casting of stones ( Ecclesiastes 3:5) probably refers to the ancient custom of destroying a farmer"s field by throwing many stones on it. The gathering of stones describes the clearing of stones from a field. [1] The fact that there are proper times for expressing love and other times for refraining from love reminds us that there are standards for sex, though this is not the only application.
"Verses1-8 have an important connection with the theme of the book and relate closely to what precedes and to what follows. Man is to take his life day by day from the hand of God ( Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13), realizing that God has a fitting time for each thing to be done ( Ecclesiastes 3:1). The significance of this section is that man is responsible to discern the right times for the right actions; and when he does the right action according to God"s time, the result is "beautiful" ( Ecclesiastes 3:11)." [4]