Ecclesiastes 3:4

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

עת עֵת

seasonal time

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

עת

ʻêth

Definition

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.

Root

from H5703 (עד);

Exhaustive

from עד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6256

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֵת

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1146

Time (generally); properly, what is bounded, defined, or established. Refers to occasion, season, period (time of evening, spring, harvest, youth), suitable/right time, or future time. Grammatically common gender (masc. or fem.).

עֵת

noun • Strongs / High • Page 1147

time. Plur. עִתִּים: times = courses of time, occurrences of time, determinations of time, destiny, fate; adverse times.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּעַת

verb • Page 109

In Kal not used. Pi. בִּעֵת: 1. to frighten, terrify (Ps. 18:5, Job 9:34). 2. to come upon suddenly (1 Sam. 16:14, 15). Niph. to fear, be afraid (Dan. 8:17).

עֵת

com. gen. • Root ענה • Page 533

time. (Hos. 13: 13, Job 22: 16, Est. 1: 13, etc.). Plur. עִתִּים and עִתּוֹת (1.) destinies. Ps. 31: 16. (2.) times, Lat. vices. Neh. 9: 28.

Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: καιρῷ καιροσ καιρὸν καιρὸσ ὥραν

LXX Usage Statistics

H6256:

καιρῷ 94× (25.7%)

καιροσ 32× (11.0%)

καιρὸν 20× (6.1%)

καιρὸσ 19× (6.0%)

ὥραν 16× (4.6%)

καιροῦ 13× (4.4%)

--- 11× (4.1%)

ὡσ 9× (3.3%)

ὥρα 6× (1.7%)

'' 6× (1.9%)

לבכות לִבְכּוֹת

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

בכה

bâkâh

Definition

to weep; generally to bemoan

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1058

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

בֶּכֶה

noun masculine • Root בכה • Lemma_Lookup • Page 243

a weeping.

בָּכָה

verb • Root בכה • Lemma_Lookup • Page 243

intr. prop. to flow, therefore to weep (to shed tears); metaph. to mourn, lament, in cases of misfortune; to bemoan.

שְׁבָכָה

noun masculine • Lemma_Lookup • Page 1373

lattice-work (plural form).

שְׁבָכָה

noun feminine • Lemma_Lookup • Page 1373

a net, a trap, a figure of danger; lattices, balusters; lattice-enclosure, of a window.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּכָה

verb • Page 98

To weep, to weep for, to bewail. Often construed with prepositions like לְ ,אֶל ,עַל. Pi. to bewail (Ezek. 8:14). (Gen. 23:2, 37:35, 50:3; Lam. 1:16; Jer. 22:10; Num. 11:13).

Preposition, Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: ἔκλαυσεν ἔκλαυσαν ἔκλαιον ἔκλαιεν κλαίει

LXX Usage Statistics

H1058:

ἔκλαυσεν 28× (23.7%)

ἔκλαυσαν 17× (13.9%)

ἔκλαιον 5× (4.3%)

ἔκλαιεν 4× (3.4%)

κλαίει 3× (2.8%)

κλαίων 3× (2.6%)

κλαύσατε 3× (2.6%)

κλαύσομαι 3× (2.5%)

ἔκλαυσα 3× (2.5%)

κλαῦσαι 3× (2.5%)

ועת וְעֵת

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

עת

ʻêth

Definition

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.

Root

from H5703 (עד);

Exhaustive

from עד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6256

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֵת

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1146

Time (generally); properly, what is bounded, defined, or established. Refers to occasion, season, period (time of evening, spring, harvest, youth), suitable/right time, or future time. Grammatically common gender (masc. or fem.).

עֵת

noun • Strongs / High • Page 1147

time. Plur. עִתִּים: times = courses of time, occurrences of time, determinations of time, destiny, fate; adverse times.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּעַת

verb • Page 109

In Kal not used. Pi. בִּעֵת: 1. to frighten, terrify (Ps. 18:5, Job 9:34). 2. to come upon suddenly (1 Sam. 16:14, 15). Niph. to fear, be afraid (Dan. 8:17).

עֵת

com. gen. • Root ענה • Page 533

time. (Hos. 13: 13, Job 22: 16, Est. 1: 13, etc.). Plur. עִתִּים and עִתּוֹת (1.) destinies. Ps. 31: 16. (2.) times, Lat. vices. Neh. 9: 28.

Conjunction, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: καιρῷ καιροσ καιρὸν καιρὸσ ὥραν

LXX Usage Statistics

H6256:

καιρῷ 94× (25.7%)

καιροσ 32× (11.0%)

καιρὸν 20× (6.1%)

καιρὸσ 19× (6.0%)

ὥραν 16× (4.6%)

καιροῦ 13× (4.4%)

--- 11× (4.1%)

ὡσ 9× (3.3%)

ὥρα 6× (1.7%)

'' 6× (1.9%)

לשחוק לִשְׂחוֹק

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

שחק

sâchaq

Definition

to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play; deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7832

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שְׁחָקִים

noun masculine plural • Root שחק • Consonantal / Low • Page 1409

Plural of שְׁחֹק, referring to the sky or heavens (see significance 2 of שְׁחֹק).

Matched after stripping common prefixes

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׂחַק

verb • Page 637

i. q. צָחַק, but more frequent. 1. To laugh, smile. 2. To mock, deride. 3. To dance, with vocal and instrumental music.

שַׁחַק

m. dec. vi. c. • Root שחק • Page 665

1. Dust (Is. 40:15). 2. A cloud (Job 36:28; Ps. 78:23). 3. The heavens, the sky (Job 37:18; Prov. 8:28).

שָׁחַק

verb • Page 665

1. To pound or bruise in pieces (Ex. 30:36; Ps. 18:43). 2. To wear away (Job 14:19).

Preposition, Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: παιζόντων καταγελᾷ παίζοντεσ ἐκγελάσεται

LXX Usage Statistics

H7832:

παιζόντων 4× (10.3%)

καταγελᾷ 2× (5.1%)

παίζοντεσ 2× (5.1%)

ἐκγελάσεται 2× (5.1%)

עת עֵת

seasonal time

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

עת

ʻêth

Definition

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.

Root

from H5703 (עד);

Exhaustive

from עד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6256

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֵת

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1146

Time (generally); properly, what is bounded, defined, or established. Refers to occasion, season, period (time of evening, spring, harvest, youth), suitable/right time, or future time. Grammatically common gender (masc. or fem.).

עֵת

noun • Strongs / High • Page 1147

time. Plur. עִתִּים: times = courses of time, occurrences of time, determinations of time, destiny, fate; adverse times.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּעַת

verb • Page 109

In Kal not used. Pi. בִּעֵת: 1. to frighten, terrify (Ps. 18:5, Job 9:34). 2. to come upon suddenly (1 Sam. 16:14, 15). Niph. to fear, be afraid (Dan. 8:17).

עֵת

com. gen. • Root ענה • Page 533

time. (Hos. 13: 13, Job 22: 16, Est. 1: 13, etc.). Plur. עִתִּים and עִתּוֹת (1.) destinies. Ps. 31: 16. (2.) times, Lat. vices. Neh. 9: 28.

Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: καιρῷ καιροσ καιρὸν καιρὸσ ὥραν

LXX Usage Statistics

H6256:

καιρῷ 94× (25.7%)

καιροσ 32× (11.0%)

καιρὸν 20× (6.1%)

καιρὸσ 19× (6.0%)

ὥραν 16× (4.6%)

καιροῦ 13× (4.4%)

--- 11× (4.1%)

ὡσ 9× (3.3%)

ὥρα 6× (1.7%)

'' 6× (1.9%)

ספוד סְפוֹד

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ספד

çâphad

Definition

properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as Orientals do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as Orientals do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail; lament, mourn(-er), wail.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5594

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

סָפַד

verb / tr. • Root ספד • Strongs / High • Page 1030

Prop. intr. to be piercing, pointed, sharp (of plants, instruments); metaph. applied to the sharp, piercing, and penetrating sound of the death-wail; generally 1. to lament aloud. 2. tr. to thrust, to strike upon a thing, especially used regarding mourning rituals (smite on the breasts).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

סָפַד

verb • Page 480

To mourn, lament, bewail; particularly for one dead. (Zech. 12:12, 1 K. 14:13, Gen. 23:2, 2 Sam. 11:26)

Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: κόπτεσθε ἐκόψαντο κόψασθαι κόψωνται κόψησθε

LXX Usage Statistics

H5594:

κόπτεσθε 4× (13.1%)

ἐκόψαντο 4× (12.6%)

κόψασθαι 3× (10.0%)

κόψωνται 2× (7.4%)

κόψησθε 2× (6.9%)

κόψεται 2× (6.9%)

'' 2× (6.3%)

κόψονται 2× (6.3%)

ועת וְעֵת

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

עת

ʻêth

Definition

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.

Root

from H5703 (עד);

Exhaustive

from עד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6256

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֵת

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1146

Time (generally); properly, what is bounded, defined, or established. Refers to occasion, season, period (time of evening, spring, harvest, youth), suitable/right time, or future time. Grammatically common gender (masc. or fem.).

עֵת

noun • Strongs / High • Page 1147

time. Plur. עִתִּים: times = courses of time, occurrences of time, determinations of time, destiny, fate; adverse times.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּעַת

verb • Page 109

In Kal not used. Pi. בִּעֵת: 1. to frighten, terrify (Ps. 18:5, Job 9:34). 2. to come upon suddenly (1 Sam. 16:14, 15). Niph. to fear, be afraid (Dan. 8:17).

עֵת

com. gen. • Root ענה • Page 533

time. (Hos. 13: 13, Job 22: 16, Est. 1: 13, etc.). Plur. עִתִּים and עִתּוֹת (1.) destinies. Ps. 31: 16. (2.) times, Lat. vices. Neh. 9: 28.

Conjunction, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: καιρῷ καιροσ καιρὸν καιρὸσ ὥραν

LXX Usage Statistics

H6256:

καιρῷ 94× (25.7%)

καιροσ 32× (11.0%)

καιρὸν 20× (6.1%)

καιρὸσ 19× (6.0%)

ὥραν 16× (4.6%)

καιροῦ 13× (4.4%)

--- 11× (4.1%)

ὡσ 9× (3.3%)

ὥρα 6× (1.7%)

'' 6× (1.9%)

רקוד רְקוֹד׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

רקד

râqad

Definition

properly, to stamp, i.e. to spring about (wildly or for joy)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to stamp, i.e. to spring about (wildly or for joy); dance, jump, leap, skip.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7540

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

רָקַד

verb • Root רקד • Strongs / High • Page 1357

intr. prop. to move to and fro, to hasten, to run; hence to leap, to spring, for joy, to start, to leap up, from fear.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

רָקַד

verb • Page 630

To skip, dance. Spoken of inanimate nature, Ps. 114: 4, 6. Pi. to leap, to dance (1 Chr. 15: 29; Is. 13: 21). Hiph. to cause to skip (Ps. 29: 6).

Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H7540:

No stats available

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:

LITV Translation:
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to lament, and a time to dance;