Ecclesiastes 3:4 Meaning and Explanation
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Sorrow and joy each have their rightful season; weeping and laughter both belong.
What Does Ecclesiastes 3:4 Mean?
Turning from outward action to the heart, the Preacher names the emotions that fill a human life. Weeping and laughter, mourning and dancing, are set as equals. Neither grief nor gladness is treated as out of place; each answers to its own season.
This verse gives permission to feel. There is a time to weep, and tears are not faithlessness; there is a time to dance, and joy is not frivolity. Scripture elsewhere promises that mourning will one day turn to dancing, that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. The Preacher's honesty about sorrow makes room for the deeper hope that the season of weeping does not last forever.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 3:4
What does Ecclesiastes 3:4 mean?
Sorrow and joy each have their rightful season; weeping and laughter both belong.