The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:17 Explained

Ecclesiastes 3:17

KJV: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

YLT: I said in my heart, 'The righteous and the wicked doth God judge, for a time is to every matter and for every work there.'

Darby: I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

ASV: I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I said  in mine heart,  God  shall judge  the righteous  and the wicked:  for [there is] a time  there for every purpose  and for every work. 

What does Ecclesiastes 3:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 3

1  by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail
11  is an excellence in God's works
16  as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 3:17 mean?

Said I in my heart - the righteous and the wicked shall judge God for [there is] a time for every purpose for every work there
אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י אֶת־ הַצַּדִּיק֙ וְאֶת־ הָ֣רָשָׁ֔ע יִשְׁפֹּ֖ט הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּי־ עֵ֣ת לְכָל־ חֵ֔פֶץ וְעַ֥ל כָּל־ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה שָֽׁם

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי  Said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּלִבִּ֔י  in  my  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַצַּדִּיק֙  the  righteous 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
הָ֣רָשָׁ֔ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
יִשְׁפֹּ֖ט  shall  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עֵ֣ת  [there  is]  a  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
לְכָל־  for  every 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חֵ֔פֶץ  purpose 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה  work 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.