What Does Ecclesiastes 3:1 Mean?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 meaning explained verse-by-verse: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:..." Original language, context & application.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)
The Plain Meaning
Solomon observes that life moves in seasons, each with its own purpose. God orchestrates the timing of all events in His sovereign wisdom.
Word Study
'Z'man' means an appointed time, season, or fixed moment. It implies divine scheduling—not random chance but God's deliberate arrangement. Every season has been appointed by God, giving even difficult times a sense of divine purpose and limit.
Living It Out
Every season of life has purpose. Trust God's timing—the joys, the sorrows, the beginnings, and the endings are all under His control.
Download the Complete KJV Bible — Free PDF
All 66 books, 1,189 chapters — printable and ready to read offline.