The famous poem declares there is a season for everything—birth and death, planting and uprooting, weeping and laughing, war and peace—under heaven's appointed times. God has set eternity in human hearts yet hidden the full work from understanding; since humans share mortality with beasts, the Teacher counsels rejoicing in one's work as one's portion.
Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 Summary
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Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
IntroductionChapters 1
Searching for MeaningChapters 2-6
Experiments with pleasure, work, wisdom, and wealth all prove unsatisfying.
Wisdom for LivingChapters 7-11
ConclusionChapters 12
Bible Bites
Vanity Appears 38 Times
The Hebrew word hebel (vanity/vapor/breath) appears 38 times in Ecclesiastes' twelve chapters, making it the book's central theme. The word literally means breath or vapor, emphasizing life's fleeting nature.
Ecclesiastes