Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 3:1
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
“Everything has its time, and every purpose under the heavens its hour.” The Germ. language is poor in synonyms of time. Zöckler translates: Everything has its Frist ..., but by Frist we think only of a fixed term of duration, not of a period of beginning, which, though not exclusively, is yet here primarily meant; we have therefore adopted Luther's excellent translation. Certainly זְמָן (from זָמַן, cogn. סָמַן, signare), belonging to the more modern Heb., means a Frist (e.g., Dan 2:16) as well as a Zeitpunkt, point of time; in the Semit. (also Assyr. simmu, simanu, with ס) it is the most common designation of the idea of time. עֵת is abbreviated either from עֵנֶת (וָעַד, to determine) or from עֵנֶת (from עָנָה, cogn. אנה, to go towards, to meet). In the first case it stands connected with מוֹעֵד on the one side, and with עִדָּן (from עָדַד, to count) on the other; in the latter case, with עוֹנָה, Exo 21:10 (perhaps also עַן and עֶנֶת in ְכעַן, כְּעֶנֶת). It is difficult to decide this point; proportionally more, however, can be said for the original עֵנֶת (Palest.-Aram. עִנְתָּא), as also the prep. of participation אֵת is derived from אֵנֶת (meeting, coming together).
(Note: Vid., Orelli's work on the Heb. Synon. der Zeit u. Ewigkeit, 1871. He decides for the derivation from ועד morf ; Fleischer (Levy's Chald. W.B. II. 572) for the derivation from עָנָה, the higher power of אָנָה, whence (Arab.) inan, right time. We have, under Job 24:1, maintained the former derivation.)
The author means to say, if we have regard to the root signification of the second conception of time - (1) that everything has its fore-determined time, in which there lies both a determined point of time when it happens, and a determined period of time during which it shall continue; and (2) that every matter has a time appointed for it, or one appropriate, suitable for it. The Greeks were guided by the right feeling when they rendered זמן by χρόνος , and עת by καιρός.
Olympiodorus distinguishes too sharply when he understands the former of duration of time, and the latter of a point of time; while the state of the matter is this, that by χρόνος the idea comprehends the termini a quo and ad quem, while by καιρός it is limited to the terminus a quo. Regarding חֵפֶץ, which proceeds from the ground-idea of being inclined to, and intention, and thus, like πρᾶγμα and χρῆμα, to the general signification of design, undertaking, res gesta, res.
The illustration commences with the beginning and the ending of the life of man and (in near-lying connection of thought) of plants.