Ecclesiastes 3:6

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%)

לבקש לְבַקֵּשׁ

to seek

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

בקש

bâqash

Definition

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1245

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

קַשׁ

noun masculine • Root קשש • Consonantal / Low • Page 1302

Dry straw, stubble, chaff; a figure of the worthless and contemptible.

Matched after stripping common prefixes

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בָּקַשׁ

verb • Page 112

1. to seek, quaero. Gen. 37:15, 16. 1 Sam. 10:14. to seek after, inquire into, Job 10:6. Construed with an infin. with and without ל, Ex. 2:15. 4:24. 1 Sam. 19:2. Jer. 26:21.

Preposition, Verb Piel infinitive construct common

LXX: ζητεῖ ζητῆσαι ἐζήτησαν ζητοῦντεσ ζητεῖν

LXX Usage Statistics

H1245:

ζητεῖ 15× (7.0%)

ζητῆσαι 13× (5.5%)

ἐζήτησαν 12× (5.4%)

ζητοῦντεσ 12× (4.8%)

ζητεῖν 10× (4.6%)

ἐζήτει 9× (3.8%)

ζητήσω 9× (4.2%)

ἐζήτησεν 8× (3.5%)

ζητεῖσ 8× (3.8%)

ζητήσατε 7× (3.1%)

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%)

לאבד לְאַבֵּד

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

אבד

ʼâbad

Definition

properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy); break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָבַד

verb • Strongs_Numbers • Page 45

intr. properly: to be isolated, forsaken; hence 1. to wander about, 2. to be lost, to disappear, to cease, 3. to perish, 4. To lose something

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֹבַד

m. verbal • Root אבד • Page 18

Ruin, destruction (Num. 24: 20, 24). Signification is abstract.

אָבַד

verb • Page 18

To perish, wander, stray. Specifically used of cattle (Ps. 119: 176), exiles (Is. 27: 13), and a wandering Syrian (Deut. 26: 5). Includes sub-meanings: 3. to perish (Joel 1: 11, Job 4: 11) and 4. to be unfortunate or forsaken (Job 29: 13). Piel (Pi.) means to lose, cause to fail, or pervert understanding. Hiphil (Hiph.) means to destroy or lead astray. Chaldee form used for 'to perish'.

אָבַד

verb • Root אבד • Page 17

To be lost, to fail, to perish, or to go astray. Used in reference to persons, things (like a law or wisdom), and the heart/understanding. Core references: 1 Sam. 9:3, Deut. 22:3, Job 11:20, Jer. 25:35, Ps. 142:5, Ezek. 7:26, etc.

Preposition, Verb Piel infinitive construct common

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0006:

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%)

לשמור לִשְׁמוֹר

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

שמר

shâmar

Definition

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8104

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Strongs / High • Page 1452

I. (Verb) 1. To pierce, prick (of sharp points); metaphorically, to have a penetrating, sharp smell or pungent taste. 2. To be nimble or active, to act quickly, to be awake. 3. To keep, to watch (a garden, city, flock); to protect (fig., to be careful about one's speech).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שָׁמַר

verb • Root שמר • Page 688

1. to keep, watch, guard. 1 Sam. 26:15, Ps. 121:7. Part. שֹׁמֵר a watchman, guard, Cant. 3:3. 2. to keep, preserve, lay up. Ex. 22:6. 3. to keep or retain (anger). Amos 1:11. 4. to watch, mark, observe. 1 Sam. 1:12, Ps. 17:4. 5. to observe, keep (e.g. a covenant, commands). Gen. 17:9, 1 K. 11:10. 6. to worship, reverence. Ps. 31:7, Hos. 4:10. 7. to watch, besiege (a city). 2 Sam. 11:16. Niph. to beware of, to be guarded. Josh. 6:18, Ps. 37:28. Pi. i. q. Kal. Jon. 2:9. Hithpa. to be observed. Mic. 6:16.

Preposition, Verb Qal infinitive construct common

LXX: φυλάσσειν φυλάξεσθε φυλάσσων φυλάξῃ ἐφύλαξεν

LXX Usage Statistics

H8104:

φυλάσσειν 29× (6.0%)

φυλάξεσθε 26× (5.2%)

φυλάσσων 18× (3.3%)

φυλάξῃ 16× (3.2%)

ἐφύλαξεν 14× (2.9%)

φυλάσσοντεσ 14× (2.8%)

πρόσεχε 14× (3.1%)

φυλάξω 13× (2.6%)

φυλάξασθε 12× (2.5%)

φύλαξαι 11× (2.4%)

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%)

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%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to watch, and a time to cast away.

LITV Translation:
a time to seek, and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away;