Ecclesiastes 3:5

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

עת עֵ֚ת

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%)

להשליך לְהַשְׁלִיךְ

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

שלך

shâlak

Definition

to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7993

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁלַךְ

verb • Root שלך • Strongs / High • Page 1435

To shoot at; to pour or scatter upon; to throw over; to throw, to cast out (e.g., lots, a person, sins behind one's back, one's burden on God); to despise, condemn; to reject from his presence; to be thrown down; to be destroyed.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁלַךְ

verb • Page 680

In Kal not used. Hiph. 1. to throw, cast (Gen. 37:22; Ps. 55:23; Ps. 50:17; Ps. 22:11). 2. to cast away (2 K. 7:15; Ezek. 20:8; Is. 14:19). 3. to expel, banish (Deut. 29:27; Amos 4:3; 2 K. 13:23). 4. to cast down, destroy (Jer. 9:18; Job 18:7; Dan. 8:11). Hoph. pass. of Hiph.

Preposition, Verb Hiphil infinitive construct common

LXX: ἔρριψεν ἔρριψαν αὐτοὺσ ἐρριμμένον ῥῖψον

LXX Usage Statistics

H7993:

ἔρριψεν 21× (15.3%)

ἔρριψαν 10× (7.3%)

αὐτοὺσ 6× (3.8%)

ἐρριμμένον 4× (3.3%)

ῥῖψον 4× (3.2%)

ἔρριψα 4× (2.9%)

ἀπέρριψεν 3× (2.5%)

'' 3× (2.1%)

ῥιφήσεται 3× (2.5%)

ἀπορρίψῃσ 2× (1.7%)

אבנים אֲבָנִים

building stones

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אבן

ʼeben

Definition

a stone

Root

from the root of H1129 (בנה) through the meaning to build;

Exhaustive

from the root of בנה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H68

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Root אבן • Strongs_Numbers • Page 54

A rock, a stone; often as material: smooth stones, precious stones, ore.

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Root אבן • Strongs_Numbers • Page 55

A stone. (Definite form: אַבְנָא). Used in Daniel 2:34, 45. Also 'a burdensome stone' (Ezra 5:8, 6:4), referring to heavy large stones.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Page 22

1. stone (Gen. 31: 46; Job 28: 2). 2. by way of eminence, a precious stone (1 K. 10: 2, 11). 3. rock, fortress, in a metaphorical sense (Gen. 49: 24). 4. a weight (Zech. 5: 8; Is. 34: 11). 5. אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר (stone of help) proper name of a stone placed by Samuel (1 Sam. 4: 1). 6. אֶבֶן הָאָזֶל (stone of departure) proper name (1 Sam. 20: 19).

Noun common masculine plural absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0068:

No stats available

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%)

כנוס כְּנוֹס

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

כנס

kânaç

Definition

to collect; hence, to enfold

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to collect; hence, to enfold; gather (together), heap up, wrap self.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3664

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

כָּנַס

verb • Root כנס • Strongs / High • Page 711

A transitive verb with two meanings: 1. to collect, bring together, heap up, assemble, gather. 2. (not used in the Bible) to veil, to hide.

כָּנַס

verb • Root כנס • Strongs / High • Page 712

To collect, the dispersed ones.

כָּנַס

verb • Root כנס • Strongs / High • Page 716

Aramaic verb meaning to gather together.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

כָּנַס

verb • Page 321

1. to collect, heap up; e. g. stones, Ecc. 3: 5; treasures, Ecc. 2: 8, 26; water, Ps. 33: 7. 2. to assemble, bring together, as men. Est. 4: 16; 1 Chr. 22: 2. Hithpa. to hide or cover one's self. Is. 28: 20.

כָּנַס

verb • Page 322

In Syr. Chald. and Talmud: to collect, gather together; hence probably in Hebrew (like אָסַף, קָבַץ) to take away. Reference: Is. 30:20.

Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: συναγαγεῖν

LXX Usage Statistics

H3664:

συναγαγεῖν 3× (20.6%)

אבנים אֲבָנים

building stones

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אבן

ʼeben

Definition

a stone

Root

from the root of H1129 (בנה) through the meaning to build;

Exhaustive

from the root of בנה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H68

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Root אבן • Strongs_Numbers • Page 54

A rock, a stone; often as material: smooth stones, precious stones, ore.

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Root אבן • Strongs_Numbers • Page 55

A stone. (Definite form: אַבְנָא). Used in Daniel 2:34, 45. Also 'a burdensome stone' (Ezra 5:8, 6:4), referring to heavy large stones.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֶבֶן

noun feminine • Page 22

1. stone (Gen. 31: 46; Job 28: 2). 2. by way of eminence, a precious stone (1 K. 10: 2, 11). 3. rock, fortress, in a metaphorical sense (Gen. 49: 24). 4. a weight (Zech. 5: 8; Is. 34: 11). 5. אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר (stone of help) proper name of a stone placed by Samuel (1 Sam. 4: 1). 6. אֶבֶן הָאָזֶל (stone of departure) proper name (1 Sam. 20: 19).

Noun common masculine plural absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0068:

No stats available

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%)

לחבוק לַחֲבוֹק

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

חבק

châbaq

Definition

to clasp (the hands or in embrace)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace); embrace, fold.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2263

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

חָבַק

verb • Root חבק • Strongs / High • Page 453

intr. to fold, to shut together, the hands; to embrace, a child, or otherwise from love.

חָבַק

verb • Root חבק • Strongs / High • Page 454

To clasp, to embrace (in Piel form); a second, unused meaning is to fold the hands through laziness.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

חָבַק

verb • Page 212

1. to embrace, twine round; construed with an accusative (Ecc. 3:5, 2K. 4:16, Gen. 29:13, 48:10). 2. to fold the hands, spoken of the idler (Ecc. 4:5).

Preposition, Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: περιλήμψεταί περιεβάλοντο περιέλαβεν περιλαβὼν

LXX Usage Statistics

H2263:

περιλήμψεταί 2× (16.9%)

περιεβάλοντο 2× (16.9%)

περιέλαβεν 2× (15.7%)

περιλαβὼν 2× (14.4%)

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%)

לרחק לִרְחֹק

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

רחק

râchaq

Definition

to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation); (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H7368

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

רָחַק

verb intransitive • Root רחק • Strongs / High • Page 1335

Intr. to separate, from a person or thing; to remove from, to be away from (opposite קָרַב); to be far, of place or time; of God, not to be at hand to help.

רָחַק

aram. intr. verb (aramaic) • Root רחק • Strongs / High • Page 1335

(Aram. not used) Same as Hebr. רָחַק.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

רָחַק

verb • Root רחק • Page 616

To be removed, distant (Ps. 103: 12). Spoken of God being far off (Ps. 22: 12) or to keep one's self away, to abstain (Ex. 23: 7). Pi. רִחַק to put far away. Hiph. to be or go far off (Gen. 44: 4).

Preposition, Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: μακρὰν πόρρω ἀποστῇσ μακράν ποίησον

LXX Usage Statistics

H7368:

μακρὰν 12× (15.6%)

πόρρω 5× (6.7%)

ἀποστῇσ 3× (4.0%)

μακράν 3× (3.6%)

ποίησον 3× (3.4%)

ἀπέστησαν 2× (2.7%)

--- 2× (2.7%)

μακρύνῃσ 2× (2.7%)

ἐμάκρυνασ 2× (2.7%)

ἀπέχου 2× (2.7%)

מחבק מֵחַבֵּק׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

מ

mi / min

Definition

from

Root

Abbreviated from H4480

Exhaustive

(mem) — from / out of

Core value: emergence, separation, derivation
מ does not merely indicate origin in time (“after”). It marks boundary-crossing:
- source,
- differentiation,
- contrast,
- extraction.
Aonically, מ indicates transition between states.
not “after X” but “out from within X.”
This is why מ can signal both cause and contrast: both involve standing on the far side of a boundary.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

חבק

châbaq

Definition

to clasp (the hands or in embrace)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace); embrace, fold.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2263

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

חָבַק

verb • Root חבק • Strongs / High • Page 453

intr. to fold, to shut together, the hands; to embrace, a child, or otherwise from love.

חָבַק

verb • Root חבק • Strongs / High • Page 454

To clasp, to embrace (in Piel form); a second, unused meaning is to fold the hands through laziness.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

חָבַק

verb • Page 212

1. to embrace, twine round; construed with an accusative (Ecc. 3:5, 2K. 4:16, Gen. 29:13, 48:10). 2. to fold the hands, spoken of the idler (Ecc. 4:5).

Prep-M, Verb Piel infinitive construct common

LXX: περιλήμψεταί περιεβάλοντο περιέλαβεν περιλαβὼν

LXX Usage Statistics

H2263:

περιλήμψεταί 2× (16.9%)

περιεβάλοντο 2× (16.9%)

περιέλαβεν 2× (15.7%)

περιλαβὼν 2× (14.4%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
A time to cast away stones, and a time to collect stones a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing:

LITV Translation:
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing;