Study notes

Ecclesiastes 3

Introducing EcclesiastesWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:12–11:6 Section

The Teacher carefully studied himself and the world around him. He studied the things that human beings spend their time and energy doing. These things make them different from animals and the rest of creation. The Teacher did this in order to test which of these things had meaning.

He studied pleasure. This included laughter, beauty and anything that made the body feel good. He studied wisdom, foolishness, knowledge and understanding. People can never have enough wisdom to fully understand the world or fully understand God.

The Teacher studied hard work and the things that he and others accomplished. He studied the many different ways that people suffer on earth. He studied the ways that people pray, offer sacrifices and worship God. He studied riches, honour and authority. He also studied the evil things that people do.

The teacher learnt that none of these things gives human beings any advantage over animals. This doesn’t mean that human beings live like animals do. It doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t live wisely as explained in the Teacher’s proverbs. It means that none of the things human beings do keeps them from dying.

The Teacher explained that everyone will die someday. This is true no matter who a person is, what they have or what they do. For the Teacher, things that ended in death didn’t have meaning. They made life not worth living. He learnt that what made life worth living was receiving God’s gifts and enjoying them. Food, drink, work, wisdom, knowledge, happiness and family are gifts from God. The ability to enjoy these things is also a gift from God. One reason the Teacher respected God is because everything that God does lasts for ever.

3:1–8

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: Wisdom knows that everything has its own time. Both in human activities and in nature (see Ecclesiastes 1:3–7). A wise person knows when to start any activity (Ecclesiastes 8:5). Opportunities do not last long (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5).

3:2–8

We cannot control when we are born or when we die (Ecclesiastes 8:8), but we must live wisely between those events.
plant and...uproot: Make wise agricultural decisions during the natural seasons.
In ancient Israel, times to kill included capital punishment and war.
During mourning, people in the Near East often tore their clothes.
There is a time to hate, even for God (Psalms 5:5; 11:5).

3:9

gain from his toil?: See Ecclesiastes 3:12–13.

3:9–14

Every activity has a right time (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8), but only God knows when that time is (Ecclesiastes 3:9–11). People should accept uncertainty and trust God, who rewards wise and righteous work with enjoyment.

3:10

the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men: God made our work harder after humans rebelled against Him (Genesis 3:17–19). This burden is not too heavy for us to enjoy our work and its rewards (Ecclesiastes 3:11213).

3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time: We can sometimes see this beauty in our work and the world. However, many people cannot see it. God keeps the understanding of how everything fits together for himself (see Romans 8:22–28).
God has planted eternity, an awareness of the infinite, within each of us. This is enough for us to be in awe of him who is infinite and eternal, and enough to hope for eternal life after death.

3:12–13

rejoice and do good while they live: Even though life and work can be hard, the Teacher's conclusion (repeated from Ecclesiastes 2:24) can still be true.

3:14

Understanding that God's actions are final is a reason to respect and trust him. We should honor and value all that he does.

3:15

what will be has already been: The same events repeat throughout history (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10) which is part of God's plan.

3:16

the place of justice: In ancient Israel, local court proceedings took place at the city gates. The city’s elders sat there to hear and decide legal matters (for example, see Ruth 4:1–12).

3:16–5:7

This section discusses various topics, such as justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship.

3:17

God will judge: Human injustices (Ecclesiastes 3:16) are temporary and God will correct them. The narrator repeats this to conclude the book (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

3:19

When it comes to breathing and dying, people are like animals, but we have other advantages (for example, see Genesis 1:26–28).

3:20

from dust...to dust: The Teacher talks about God's judgment on human rebellion in Eden (see Genesis 3:19).

3:21

the spirit of man rises: Compare Ecclesiastes 12:7.

3:22

enjoy his work: Work is now a separate source of enjoyment, different from food and drink (compare Ecclesiastes 2:24–25; 3:12–13).

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