Ecclesiastes 3:8
What does Ecclesiastes 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Ecclesiastes 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ecclesiastes 3:8 means
This final verse in the poetic list concludes with profound and impactful contrasts. "A time to love, and a time to hate" acknowledges that even strong emotions like love and hate have their appropriate contexts and seasons, not always negative; hate here can relate to renouncing evil (Proverbs 8:13). Finally, "a time for war, and a time for peace" directly addresses the grandest societal conflicts and their resolutions. These pairs underscore that even matters of profound human relationship, conflict, and societal harmony are subject to God's sovereign design.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
KJV
King James Version · 1611A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949A time for love and a time for hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862A time to love, And a time to hate. A time of war, And a time of peace.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.
Context
This verse concludes the extensive poetic list of contrasting pairs that began in verse 2. It serves as a powerful capstone, moving from personal emotions and actions to macro-level societal events like war and peace. By completing this comprehensive catalog, the Preacher prepares the reader for the transition in verse 9, where he begins to analyze the implications of this divinely ordered reality, especially concerning human labor and profit.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 20:1
And it came to pass after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
- Luke 14:26
If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
- Genesis 14:14
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
- Joshua 8:1
And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land;
- Ephesians 5:28
Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:
- Ephesians 3:19
and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
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