Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV)

Read Ecclesiastes chapter 3 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Ecclesiastes 3

Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

Ecclesiastes 3:1

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpos…"

Ecclesiastes 3:11

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath…"

Popular Verses in Ecclesiastes 3

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Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

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Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV

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Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

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Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV

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Ecclesiastes 3 Summary

Ecclesiastes 3 opens with one of the Bible's most recognized poems: 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.' Solomon lists fourteen pairs of opposites — a time to be born and die, plant and pluck, kill and heal, weep and laugh, mourn and dance, love and hate, war and peace.

The chapter reflects on the tension between human limitation and divine purpose. God 'hath made every thing beautiful in his time' and has 'set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.' Solomon concludes that enjoying work, food, and drink is God's gift, and that 'whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it.'

Key Themes

Seasons of LifeGod's TimingEternity in the HeartAccepting God's Sovereignty

Key Verses in Ecclesiastes 3

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

— Ecclesiastes 3:1

The opening line acknowledges that life moves through divinely ordered seasons — nothing is permanent except God.

"He 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."

— Ecclesiastes 3:11

The paradox of human existence — we sense eternity but cannot fully comprehend God's plan.

"Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it."

— Ecclesiastes 3:14

God's work is perfect and permanent — humans cannot improve or diminish what He does.

Life Application

Every season you're in — even the painful ones — has a divine purpose. Stop fighting the season and start trusting the One who ordained it. God makes everything beautiful in His time, not yours. And the eternity He planted in your heart is proof you were made for more than this world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'a time for everything' mean?

Solomon observes that life operates in divinely appointed seasons. Every human experience — birth, death, joy, grief, love, loss — has its place in God's design. The poem doesn't endorse every activity but acknowledges that life's contrasts are part of God's sovereign order.

What does 'eternity in their heart' mean?

God has planted an awareness of the eternal in every human soul — a sense that there is more beyond this life. Yet we cannot fully comprehend God's complete plan. This creates both longing (we know we're made for eternity) and humility (we can't figure it all out).

Read the full summary of Ecclesiastes