Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Ecclesiastes 3

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Book
  
Book of Ecclesiastes

Order in the Bible part
  
21

Bible part
  
Old Testament

Category
  
Ketuvim

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.

Contents

Text

  • The original text is written in Hebrew.
  • Some of the most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
  • In Hebrew:
  • Masoretic Text
  • Dead Sea Scrolls
  • In Greek:
  • Septuagint (3rd century BC)
  • This chapter is divided into 22 verses.

    • Structure

    This chapter can be grouped:

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 = Everything Has Its Time
  • Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 = The God-Given Task
  • Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 = Injustice Seems to Prevail

    • A time for every purpose

  • Verse 2-8 give a list of times for major activities, according to God's plan. The examples are related to the body, mind and soul.

    • Verse 1

    To every thing there is a season, A time for every purpose under the heaven:

    See Turn! Turn! Turn!

    Verse 11

    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.

    The first phrase becomes an inspiration for the popular hymn "In His Time" (song and lyrics by Diane Ball).

    Verse 12

    I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

    Verse 13

    And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

    Musical settings

  • Vier ernste Gesänge, a cycle of four songs for bass and piano by Johannes Brahms written in 1896; the first part is taken from Ecclesiastes 3:19–22.
  • "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s, which the Byrds scored a 1965 hit with. The lyrics, except for the title which is repeated throughout the song and the final two lines, are apted word-for-word from the English version of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The song became an international hit in late 1965 when it was covered by the American folk rock band The Byrds. In the U.S., the song holds distinction as the #1 hit with the oldest lyrics, and also with the oldest lyric writer, King Solomon of Israel.

    • References

    Ecclesiastes 3 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA