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To Everything There is a Season
…3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,4a timeto weepand a timeto laugh,a timeto mournand a timeto dance,5a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,…

Treasury of Scripture

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

time to weep

Nehemiah 8:9-12
And Nehemiah, whichis the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This dayis holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law…

Nehemiah 9:1
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

Psalm 30:5
For his angerendureth but a moment; in his favouris life: weeping may endure for a night, but joycometh in the morning.

a time to laugh

Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh,so that all that hear will laugh with me.

Luke 1:13,14,58
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John…

Luke 6:21-25
Blessedare ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessedare ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh…

to dance

Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

2 Samuel 6:16
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

DanceDancingLaughMournSkipSorrowTimeWeepWeepingDanceDancingLaughMournSkipSorrowTimeWeepWeeping1.by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail
11.is an excellence in God's works
16.as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast

a time to weep and a time to laugh
This phrase highlights the duality of human emotions and experiences. Weeping is often associated with sorrow, loss, or repentance. In biblical times, public displays of weeping were common during periods of mourning or distress, as seen in the lamentations of Jeremiah or the mourning rituals in the book of Job. Conversely, laughter is a sign of joy and celebration. The Bible often associates laughter with moments of divine blessing or fulfillment, such as Sarah's laughter upon hearing she would bear a son in her old age (Genesis 21:6). This balance between weeping and laughter reflects the human condition and the seasons of life ordained by God. It also points to the ultimate joy found in Christ, who promises to turn mourning into joy (John 16:20).

a time to mourn and a time to dance
Mourning in the biblical context often involved rituals such as wearing sackcloth, fasting, and lamenting, as seen in the practices of the Israelites during times of national or personal tragedy. Mourning is a time for reflection and seeking God's comfort, as Jesus Himself said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). Dancing, on the other hand, is frequently associated with celebration and worship. King David famously danced before the Lord with all his might when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). This contrast between mourning and dancing underscores the cyclical nature of life and the hope of restoration and joy that God provides. It also foreshadows the eternal joy believers will experience in the presence of God, where sorrow and mourning will flee away (Isaiah 35:10).

1.Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible.

2.Israel
The nation to which Solomon belonged, often experiencing cycles of weeping and rejoicing throughout its history.

3.The Preacher (Qoheleth)
The voice in Ecclesiastes, often identified with Solomon, who reflects on the meaning of life and the appropriate times for various human experiences.Understanding Seasons of Life
Recognize that life is composed of various seasons, each with its own purpose. Just as nature has seasons, so do our lives, and each season is ordained by God.

Embracing Emotional Balance
It is important to allow ourselves to experience the full range of emotions. Weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing are all part of the human experience and should be embraced as such.

God's Sovereignty in Timing
Trust in God's perfect timing for every event in our lives. He knows when it is time for each emotion and experience, and His timing is always purposeful.

Community and Empathy
Engage with others in their times of weeping and rejoicing. Being present with others in their emotional seasons fosters community and reflects Christ's love.

Hope in Transformation
Remember that times of mourning can lead to dancing. God has the power to transform our sorrow into joy, and this hope should sustain us through difficult times.1.What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:4?

2.How can Ecclesiastes 3:4 guide our response to life's changing seasons?

3.What does "a time to weep and a time to laugh" teach us?

4.How does Ecclesiastes 3:4 connect with Romans 12:15 on empathy?

5.In what ways can we apply "a time to mourn and a time to dance"?

6.How does understanding Ecclesiastes 3:4 help balance emotions in difficult times?

7.How does Ecclesiastes 3:4 relate to the concept of divine timing in life events?

8.What historical context influenced the writing of Ecclesiastes 3:4?

9.How does Ecclesiastes 3:4 challenge the belief in a predetermined destiny?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 3?

11.What is the meaning of "A Time to Mourn and Dance"?

12.What guidance does the Bible offer on sadness?

13.When is it appropriate to weep or laugh?

14.What is the meaning of 'A Time to Mourn and Dance'?A time to weep

• Scripture assumes that tears will visit every life. They are not signs of defeat but of God-given emotion that fits certain seasons He appoints.

• Jesus Himself entered this season: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) His tears at Lazarus’s tomb affirm both the reality of sorrow and the compassion of the Savior.

• Weeping can flow from repentance (Joel 2:12–13), from suffering (Job 30:25), or from sharing another’s pain: “weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

• God does not despise these moments; He gathers every tear (Psalm 56:8). And He limits their tenure: “weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

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and a time to laugh

• Laughter is just as fitting as tears when God grants it. After long barrenness, Sarah exclaimed, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6)

• When the Lord restores His people, “our mouths were filled with laughter.” (Psalm 126:2)

• A cheerful spirit refreshes body and soul: “A joyful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22)

• This season reminds believers that God delights to give good gifts and wants His children to enjoy them gratefully (1 Timothy 6:17).

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a time to mourn

• Mourning reaches deeper than private tears; it is the solemn recognition of loss, brokenness, or national calamity. David led Israel in mourning for Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:17-27).

• Jesus calls such mourners “blessed,” promising comfort (Matthew 5:4).

• Yet believers mourn differently: “so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Hope tempers sorrow without denying it.

• God pledges to exchange “a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) Until then, He welcomes honest lament.

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and a time to dance

• Scripture celebrates holy, whole-bodied joy. After crossing the Red Sea, “all the women followed [Miriam] with tambourines and dancing.” (Exodus 15:20)

• David “danced with all his might before the LORD.” (2 Samuel 6:14) Far from irreverent, his movement honored God’s presence.

• The Lord can literally turn mourning into movement: “You turned my mourning into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11)

• The ultimate dance awaits the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, when celebration will be unbroken (Revelation 19:7).

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summary

Ecclesiastes 3:4 teaches that God sovereignly appoints contrasting seasons—tearful and joyful, heavy and exuberant. Each has its rightful place under His rule. Believers honor Him by embracing the appropriate response for the moment, trusting that every season is temporary, purposeful, and ultimately leads to everlasting joy in His presence.

(4)Mourn.--This is the ordinary word used for noisy funeral lamentations (Jeremiah 4:8;1Samuel 25:1).

Verse 4. -A time to weep, and a time to laugh, grouped naturally witha time to mourn, and a time to dance. The funeral and the wedding, the hired mourners and the guests at the marriage-feast, are set against one another. The first clause intimates the spontaneous manifestation of the feelings of the heart; the second, their formal expression in the performances at funerals and weddings and on other solemn occasions. The contrast is found in the Lord's allusion to the sulky children in the market-place, who would not join their companions' play: "We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented" (Matthew 11:17). Dancing sometimes accompanied religious sere-monies, as when David brought up the ark (2 Samuel 6:14, 16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


a time
עֵ֤ת(‘êṯ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256:Time, now, when

to weep
לִבְכּוֹת֙(liḇ·kō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1058:To weep, to bemoan

and a time
וְעֵ֣ת(wə·‘êṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256:Time, now, when

to laugh,
לִשְׂח֔וֹק(liś·ḥō·wq)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7832:To laugh, to play

a time
עֵ֥ת(‘êṯ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256:Time, now, when

to mourn
סְפ֖וֹד(sə·p̄ō·wḏ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5594:To tear the hair and beat the breasts, to lament, to wail

and a time
וְעֵ֥ת(wə·‘êṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6256:Time, now, when

to dance,
רְקֽוֹד׃(rə·qō·wḏ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7540:To stamp, to spring about


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep and a time (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)