The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:4 Explained

Ecclesiastes 3:4

KJV: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

YLT: A time to weep, And a time to laugh. A time to mourn, And a time to skip.

Darby: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

ASV: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ecclesiastes 3:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 3

1  by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail
11  is an excellence in God's works
16  as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 3:4 mean?

a time to weep and a time to laugh to mourn to dance
עֵ֤ת לִבְכּוֹת֙ וְעֵ֣ת לִשְׂח֔וֹק סְפ֖וֹד רְקֽוֹד

עֵ֤ת  a  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
לִבְכּוֹת֙  to  weep 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
וְעֵ֣ת  and  a  time 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
לִשְׂח֔וֹק  to  laugh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׂחַק  
Sense: to laugh, play, mock.
סְפ֖וֹד  to  mourn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָפַד  
Sense: to wail, lament, mourn.
רְקֽוֹד  to  dance 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָקַד  
Sense: to skip about.