## Rashi on Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:1:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:1:1)

**לַכֹּל זְמָן.** אַל יִשְׂמַח הָאוֹסֵף בְּהוֹן מֵהֶבֶל, כִּי אִם עַכְשָׁיו הוּא בְיָדוֹ, עוֹד יִירָשׁוּהוּ צַדִּיקִים, אֶלָּא שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ הַזְּמַן, כִּי לְכָל־דָּבָר יֵשׁ זְמַן קָבוּעַ מָתַי יִהְיֶה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For everything there is a season.** Let not one who accumulates possessions out of vanity rejoice, for although he possesses them now, they will ultimately pass on to the righteous, only the time has not yet arrived, for everything has a set time¹ when it will be.²

footnotes:
¹ The word עת [=time] is repeated 29 times in this section, corresponding to the number of days in a lunar month.
² I.e., nothing is coincidental, rather there is a specific time for everything (Metsudas Dovid). Alternatively, one should not say that he has no time for Torah study or the performance of Mitzvos, because in reality לכל זמן, there is time for everything when, ועת לכל חפץ, if it is for an activity that he really desires [=חפץ], there is always time. (Kehilas Yaakov)


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:1:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:1:2)

**לְכָל־חֵפֶץ.** לְכָל־דָּבָר. כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים קְרוּיִם חֲפָצִים בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For everything.** For every thing [=חֵפֶץ. All things דְּבָרִים are called “חֲפָצִים” in the language of the Mishnah.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:2:1)

**עֵת לָלֶדֶת.** לְתִשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to be born.** At nine months.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:2:2)

**וְעֵת לָמוּת.** קֶצֶב שָׁנוֹת שֶׁל כָּל־דוֹר וָדוֹר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to die.** The limit of the years of each generation.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:2:3)

**עֵת לָטַעַת.** גּוֹי וּמַמְלָכָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to plant.** A nation and a kingdom.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:2:4)

**וְעֵת לַעֲקוֹר.** עֵת יָבֹא לְהֵעָקֵר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to uproot.** A time will come for it to be uprooted.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:3:1)

**עֵת לַהֲרוֹג.** אוּמָּה שְׁלֵמָה, כְּשֶׁמַּגִיעַ יוֹם פְּקֻדָּתָהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וּשְׁאֵרִיתֵךְ יַהֲרֹג:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to kill.** An entire nation, when the day of its visitation comes, as it is stated, “and he will slay your remnant [with the sword].”³

footnotes:
³ Yeshayahu 14:30.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:3:2)

**וְעֵת לִרְפּוֹא.** שִׁבְרָם, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּמִצְרַיִם, "וְשָׁבוּ עַד־ה' וְנֶעְתַּר לָהֶם וּרְפָאָם":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to heal.** Their ruin, as the matter is stated concerning Egypt, “and they will repent to Adonoy, and He will accept their prayer and heal them.”⁴

footnotes:
⁴ Yeshayahu 19:22.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:3:3)

**עֵת לִפְרוֹץ.** חוֹמַת הָעִיר כְּשֶׁנִּגְזַר עָלֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר, וְחוֹמַת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם מְפֹרָצֶת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to wreck.** The wall of the city, when it is decreed upon it, as it is stated, “and the wall of Yerusholayim is breached.”⁵

footnotes:
⁵ Nechemyah 1:3.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:3:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:3:4)

**וְעֵת לִבְנוֹת.** שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וּבְנִיתִיהָ כִּימֵי עוֹלָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to build.** As it is stated, “and I will build it up as in the days of old.”⁶

footnotes:
⁶ Amos 9:11.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:4:1)

**עֵת לִבְכּוֹת.** בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאָב:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to weep.** On the ninth of [Menachem] Av.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:4:2)

**וְעֵת לִשְׂחוֹק.** לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to laugh.** In the time to come, as it is stated, “Then our mouth will be filled with laughter.”⁷

footnotes:
⁷ Tehillim 126:2.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:4:3)

**עֵת סְפוֹד.** בִּימֵי אֵבֶל:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to mourn.** In the days of mourning.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:4:4)

**וְעֵת רְקוֹד.** בַּחֲתָנִים וְכַלּוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to dance.** With bridegrooms and brides.⁸

footnotes:
⁸ The Gra explains the reason why this verse does not have parallel structure, i.e., why is does not state עת לספוד ועת לרקוד, i.e., with a lamed as in the beginning עת לבכות ועת לשחוק. He says that it hints to the halachah stated in Maseches Kesuvos 17a, that on two occasions one interrupts his Torah study [= למד], lamed, to attend a wedding [רקוד] or to attend a funeral [ספוד].


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:5:1)

**עֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ אֲבָנִים.** בַּחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֻשְׁלָכִים בְּחֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת, "תִּשְׁתַּפֵּכְנָה אַבְנֵי־קֹדֶשׁ:"

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to cast away stones.** The youths of Yisroel scattered during the destruction of the Beis [Hamikdosh], as it is stated, “sacred gems are scattered.”⁹

footnotes:
⁹ Eichah 4:1.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:5:2)

**וְעֵת כְּנוֹס** אוֹתָם מִן הַגּוֹלָה, "וְהוֹשִׁיעָם ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כְּצֹאן עַמּוֹ כִּי אַבְנֵי־נֵזֶר מִתְנוֹסְסוֹת עַל־אַדְמָתוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to gather them** from the exile, as it is stated, “And Adonoy their God will save His people like sheep on that day, for the stones of the crown will be exalted over His land.”¹⁰

footnotes:
¹⁰ Zecharyah 9:16.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:5:3)

**עֵת לַחֲבוֹק.** "כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יִדְבַּק הָאֵזוֹר וְגוֹ'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to embrace.** [As it is stated,] “For, just as a belt is fastened, etc.”¹¹

footnotes:
¹¹ Yirmiyahu 13:11.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:5:4)

**וְעֵת לִרְחֹק מְחַבֵּק.** "וְרִחַק ה' אֶת־הָאָדָם":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to refrain from embracing.** [As it is stated,] “And Adonoy will drive the people far away.”¹²

footnotes:
¹² Yeshayahu 6:12.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:6:1)

**עֵת לְבַקֵּשׁ.** כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, אֶת־הָאֹבֶדֶת אֲבַקֵּשׁ. לְעִנְיַן נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to seek.** As the matter is stated, “I will seek the lost,”¹³ concerning the scattered among Yisroel.

footnotes:
¹³ Yechezkeil 34:16.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:6:2)

**וְעֵת לְאַבֵּד.** וְעֵת שֶׁאִבְּדָם בַּגּוֹלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "וַאֲבַדְתֶּם בַּגּוֹיִם".

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to abandon.** And a time when He causes them to perish in the exile, as it is stated, “And you will become lost among the nations.”¹⁴

footnotes:
¹⁴ Vayikra 26:38.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:6:3)

**עֵת לִשְׁמוֹר.** "יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ", כְּשֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to preserve.** [As it is stated,] “May Adonoy bless you and safeguard you,”¹⁵ when you do His will.

footnotes:
¹⁵ Bamidbar 6:24.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:6:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:6:4)

**וְעֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ.** "וַיַּשְׁלִכֵם אֶל־אֶרֶץ אַחֶרֶת":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to discard.** [As it is stated,] “And He cast them to another land.”¹⁶

footnotes:
¹⁶ Devarim 29:27.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:7:1)

**עֵת לִקְרוֹעַ.** מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד, "וָאֶקְרַע אֶת־הַמַמְלָכָה וְגוֹ'":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to rip apart.** The kingship of the House of Dovid,¹⁷ [as it is stated,] “And I tore the kingship, etc.”¹⁸

footnotes:
¹⁷ When Bnei Yisroel act in an evil manner.
¹⁸ I Melochim 14:8.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:7:2)

**וְעֵת לִתְפוֹר.** "וְהָיוּ לַאֲחָדִים בְּיָדֶךָ. . . וְלֹא יֵחָצוּ עוֹד לִשְׁתֵּי מַמְלָכוֹת":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to sew.** [As it is stated,] “And they will become united in your hand;”¹⁹ [and] “neither shall they be divided any longer into two kingdoms.”²⁰

footnotes:
¹⁹ Yechezkeil 37:17.
²⁰ Ibid. Verse 22.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:7:3)

**עֵת לַחֲשׁוֹת.** פְּעָמִים שֶׁאָדָם שׁוֹתֵק וּמְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "וַיִּדֹּם אַהֲרֹן", וְזָכָה שֶׁנִּתְיַחֵד הַדִּבּוּר עִמּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֶל־אַהֲרֹן. . . יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר אַל־תֵּשְׁתְּ":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to be silent.** These are the times when a person is silent and receives a reward,²¹ as it is stated, “and Aharon was silent,”²² and he [therefore] merited that the Divine speech addressed him personally, as it is stated, “And Adonoy spoke to Aharon, [saying] ‘Do not drink intoxicating wine.’”²³

footnotes:
²¹ E.g., when a person is insulted and yet remains silent. (Metsudas Dovid)
²² Vayikra 10:3.
²³ Ibid. Verse 8.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:7:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:7:4)

**וְעֵת לְדַבֵּר.** "אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה"; "וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה"; "קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to speak.** [As it is stated,] “Then Moshe sang,”²⁴ [and,] “And Devorah sang,”²⁵ [and,] “Take words with you.”²⁶

footnotes:
²⁴ Shemos 15:1.
²⁵ Shoftim 5:1.
²⁶ Hoshei’a 14:3.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:8:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:8:1)

**עֵת לֶאֱהֹב.** "וַאֲהֵבְךָ:"

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A time to love.** [As it is stated,] “And He will love you.”²⁷

footnotes:
²⁷ Devarim 7:13.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:8:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:8:2)

**וְעֵת לִשְׂנֹא.** שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "כָּל־רָעָתָם בַּגִּלְגָּל כִּי־שָׁם שְׂנֵאתִים":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And a time to hate.** [As] it is stated, “All their evil is in Gilgal; for there I hated them.”²⁸

footnotes:
²⁸ Hoshei’a 9:15.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:9:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:9:1)

**מַה־יִּתְרוֹן הָעוֹשֶׂה.** מַה־יִּתְרוֹן שֶׁל עוֹשֶׂה רַע בְּכָל־שֶׁהוּא עָמֵל? גַּם הוּא עִתּוֹ יָבֹא וְהַכֹּל אָבַד:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**What benefit [then] has the worker.** What is the benefit of the one who does evil, in all that he labors? He too, his time will come, and all [his ill gotten gains] will be lost.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:10:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:10:1)

**הָעִנְיָן.** הַמִּנְהָג:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The matter.** The behavior.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:10:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:10:2)

**לַעֲנוֹת.** לְהִתְנַהֵג:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**To be afflicted.** To behave.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:11:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:11:1)

**יָפֶה בְעִתּוֹ.** בְּעֵת הַטּוֹבָה, יָפֶה הוּא לָבֹא תַשְׁלוּם שְׂכַר מַעֲשֵׂה הַטּוֹב, וּבְעֵת הָרָעָה, רְאוּיָה הִיא לְתַשְׁלוּם מַעֲשֵׂה הָרָע:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Beautiful in its time.** In its proper time, it is beautiful that reward be given for good deeds, but at the time of evil, it is appropriate for meting out punishment for evil deeds.²⁹

footnotes:
²⁹ Alternatively, “beautiful in its time,” refers to God’s provision of sustenance to all in a timely fashion (Sforno). Or, everything He made is “beautiful when used in its designated time.” (Metsudas Dovid)


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:11:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:11:2)

גַּם אֶת־הָעֹלָם **נָתַן בְּלִבָּם וְגוֹ'.** גַּם אֶת־חָכְמַת הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן בְּלֵב הַבְּרִיּוֹת, לֹא נָתַן הַכֹּל בְּלֵב כָּל־אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, אֶלָּא זֶה קְצַת וְזֶה קְצַת, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִמְצָא הָאָדָם אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ, וְלֹא יֵדַע אֶת־עֵת פְּקֻדָּתוֹ, וּבַמֶּה יִכָּשֵׁל, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתֵּן לֵב לָשׁוּב, שֶׁיִּדְאַג וְיֹאמַר: "הַיּוֹם אוֹ מָחָר אָמוּת". וּלְכַךְ, כָּתוּב כַּאן "הָעֹלָם" חָסֵר, לְשׁוֹן הָעֲלָמָה, שֶׁאִם יֵדַע הָאָדָם יוֹם מִיתָתוֹ קְרוֹבָה, לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת וְלֹא יִטַּע כֶּרֶם. לְכַךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁהַכֹּל עָשָׂה יָפֶה בְעִתּוֹ; זֶה שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֵת לְמִיתָה, דָּבָר יָפֶה הוּא, שֶׁסּוֹמֵךְ הָאָדָם לוֹמַר: "שֶׁמָּא עֲדַיִן עֵת מִיתָתִי רָחוֹק", וּבוֹנֶה בַיִת וְנוֹטֵעַ כֶּרֶם, וְזוּ יָפָה, שֶׁנֶּעְלַם מִן הַבְּרִיּוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Even [a sense of] the external world **He has set in their heart, etc.** Also the wisdom of the world that He instilled into the hearts of mankind, He did not instill it all into each one’s heart, rather a little to this one and a little to that one, in order that man should not fully grasp the workings of the Holy One, Blessed Is He, to know it; [and thereby] he will not know the day of his visitation [death] and on what he will stumble, in order that he put his heart to repent, so that he will be concerned and say [to himself], “Today or tomorrow I will die.” Therefore, ‘הָעֹלָם’ is written here defectively [i.e., without a ‘*vav*’], an expression of “hidden,” for if man knew that the day of his death was near, he would neither build a house nor plant a vineyard.³⁰ Therefore, he says that, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” The fact that there is a time for death is a beautiful thing, for a person optimistically says [to himself], “Perhaps my death is far off,” and he builds a house and plants a vineyard; and it is beautiful that it is concealed from people.³¹

footnotes:
³⁰ Alternatively, “העלם” means eternity and the verse is translated as “even a sense of eternity [העלם] He has set in their heart, etc.” and therefore they act as if they will live forever. (Ibn Ezra)
³¹ Alternatively, העלם is referring to forgetfulness.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:12:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:12:1)

**יָדַעְתִּי.** עַתָּה, הוֹאִיל וְנֶעְלַם עֵת הַפְּקֻדָּה, כִּי אֵין טוֹב בַּבְּרִיּוֹת כִּי אִם לִשְׂמוֹחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵי בוֹרְאוֹ בְּעוֹד שֶׁהוּא חָי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I know.** Now, since the time of visitation [death] is concealed, that there is nothing better for man than to rejoice with his portion and to do that which is good in his Creator’s eyes, while he is yet alive.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:13:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:13:1)

**וְרָאָה טוֹב.** תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And enjoys the good.** The Torah and the commandments.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:14:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:14:1)

**יָדַעְתִּי כִּי כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה.** הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, הוּא רָאוּי לִהְיוֹת לְעוֹלָם, וְאֵין לְשַׁנּוֹתוֹ, לֹא בְתוֹסֶפֶת וְלֹא בְגֵרָעוֹן, וּכְשֶׁנִּשְׁתַּנָּה, הָאֱלֹהִים צִוָּה וְעָשָׂה שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּנֶּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּירְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו. אוֹקְיָנוֹס פָּרַץ גְּבוּלוֹ בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וְהֵצִיף שְׁלִישׁוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, וְהָאֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה שֶׁיִּרְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו. שִׁבְעַת יָמִים נִשְׁתַּנָּה הִלּוּךְ הַחַמָּה בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, לִזְרוֹחַ בְּמַעֲרָב וְלִשְׁקוֹעַ בְּמִזְרָח, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו. חַמָּה חָזְרָה לַאֲחוֹרֶיהָ עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת בִּימֵי חִזְקִיָּהוּ, וּבִימֵי אָחָז אָבִיו, נִתְקַצֵּר הַיּוֹם וְנִתְרַבָּה הַלַּיְלָה בְיוֹם מוֹתוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא נִסְפָּד. כָּל־זֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִרְאוּ מִלְּפָנָיו. לְפִיכָךְ, אֵין טוֹב לָאָדָם לַעֲסוֹק אֶלָּא בְמִצְוָתוֹ וְלִירָא מִלְּפָנָיו:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I know that whatever [God] does.** The Holy One, Blessed Is He, in the Creation, is fit to be eternal, and it cannot be changed, either by adding or by subtracting, and when it is changed, [it is because] God commanded and caused it to be changed, in order that they should fear Him. The ocean broke through its boundary in the generation of Enosh and inundated a third of the world, and God did this so that they would fear Him. Seven days, the course of the sun was changed in the generation of the flood, to rise in the west and set in the east, in order that they fear Him. [Also,] the sun went back ten degrees in the days of Chizkiyahu; and in the days of Achaz his father, the day was shortened and the night was lengthened on the day of his death, so that he should not be eulogized. All this was so that they would fear Him.³² Therefore, there is nothing better for a man to occupy himself with than with [fulfilling] His commandments and to fear Him.

footnotes:
³² See the Gemara in Maseches Shabbos 31b which states that God created His world only that men should fear Him, i.e., that they should have awe and reverence for Him.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:15:1)

**מַה־שֶּׁהָיָה כְּבָר הוּא.** מַה־שֶׁהָיָה מִלְּפָנֵינוּ, כְּבָר הוּא עָשׂוּי וּרְאִינוּהוּ אוֹ שְׁמַעְנוּהוּ מֵאֲחֵרִים שֶׁרָאוּהוּ, וְיֵשׁ לָנוּ לְהָעִיד עָלָיו שֶׁרָאִינוּ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־הַנִּרְדָּפִים. יַעֲקֹב נִרְדָּף, עֵשָׂו רוֹדֵף. "וָאֹהַב אֶת־יַעֲקֹב וְאֶת־עֵשָׂו שָׂנֵאתִי". מִצְרַיִם רוֹדְפִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל; מִצְרַיִם טֻבְּעוּ בַיָּם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בְיָד רָמָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**That which already was.** That which was before us, was already done, and we either saw it or heard it from others who saw it, and we can attest to it, for we saw that the Holy One, Blessed Is He, seeks the pursued. Yaakov was pursued, Eisav was a pursuer, [and Scripture states,] “And I loved Yaakov. But I hated Eisav.”³³ The Egyptians pursued Yisroel; the Egyptians drowned in the sea, and [Bnei] Yisroel were victorious.

footnotes:
³³ Malachi 1:1-2.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:15:2)

**וַאֲשֶׁר.** עָתִיד לִהְיוֹת עוֹד בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה, הוּא דֻגְמַת מַה שֶׁכְּבָר הָיָה. כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, כֵּן בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה. אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְשַׁנֶּה מִדּוֹתָיו בָּעוֹלָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And that which is.** Destined to be at the end is a model of what already was. As it was in the beginning, so will it be at the end. The Holy One, Blessed Is He, does not change His standards [by which He sustains] the world.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:15:3)

**וְהָאֱלֹהִים יְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־נִרְדָּף.** לִפָּרַע מִן הָרוֹדֵף, לְפִיכָךְ, מַה־יִּתְרוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹשֵׂה הָרָעָה בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא עָמֵל? הֲרֵי סוֹפוֹ לְהִשְׁתַּלֵּם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And God seeks the pursued.** To punish the pursuer. Therefore, what benefit is derived by one who does evil in what he labors? Ultimately he will have to pay [for it].


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:16:1)

**מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט וְגוֹ'.** רָאִיתִי בְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְקוֹם לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית בִּיְרוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁהָיְתָה "מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט". שָׁמָּה יִשְׁפְּטוּ רֶשַׁע, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "רָאשֶׁיהָ בְּשֹׁחַד יִשְׁפֹּטוּ", וְרָאִיתִי פֻרְעֲנוּתָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**In the place of justice, etc.** I saw with the Holy Spirit, the place of the Chamber of Hewn Stone in Yerusholayim, which was, “full of justice,”³⁴ there they judge wickedly, as it is stated, “Her leaders judge for bribes,”³⁵ and I saw their punishment.

footnotes:
³⁴ Yeshayahu 1:21.
³⁵ Michah 3:11.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:16:2)

**מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק.** שַׁעַר הַתָּוֶךְ, שֶׁהָיָה מְקוֹם חִתּוּךְ הֲלָכוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And in the place of righteousness.** The middle gate, which was the place where laws were established.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:16:3)

**שָׁמָה הָרֶשַׁע.** שָׁם יֵשְׁבוּ שַׂרְסְכִים, רַב־סָרִיס, נֵרְגַל שַׂרְאֶצֶר, רַב־מָג, וּנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר וְחֵילוֹתָיו, וְדָנִין אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיִסּוּרִים קָשִׁים וּמִשְׁפְּטֵי מָוֶת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**There was wickedness.** There sat Sarsachim, the chief captain, Nergal Saretzer, the chief officer, and Nevuchadnetzar and his armies,³⁶ and they judged Yisroel with harsh tortures and death sentences.

footnotes:
³⁶ See Yirmiyahu 39:3.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:16:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:16:4)

**שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע.** טַעֲמוֹ לְמַעֲלָה, לוֹמַר שֶׁהוּא שֵׁם דָּבָר כְּמוֹ הָרֶשַׁע (וְהָיָה רָאוּי לִנָּקֵד בְּסֶגּוֹ"ל הָרֵי"שׁ, אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁהוּא סוֹף פָּסוּק, נֶהְפַּךְ לִנָּקֵד קָמַ"ץ גָּדוֹל, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁבְּכָל־מָקוֹם לֹא מָצִינוּ לוֹ עוֹד שֶׁמִּתְהַפֵּךְ בְּאֶתְנַחְתָּא וְסוֹף פָּסוּק):

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**There was wickedness.** The accent mark is above [i.e., before the last syllable], indicating that it is a noun like [the preceding] ‘הָרֶשַׁע [wickedness].’³⁷ (It should have been vowelized with a *segol* under the *resh*, but since it is at the end of the verse, it is changed to be vowelized with a *kamatz gadol*, although we do not find another instance [of this word]³⁸, and the pei of the second פצע is vowelized with a kamatz because of the *esnachta*. (*Sifsei Chachomim*) where it changes in the case of an *esnachta* or a *sof pasuk*).

footnotes:
³⁷ Alternatively, הרשע is “the wicked person.” (Targum)
³⁸ But we do find instances of other words that change, as in Shemos 21:24, it states “פצע תחת פצע [=a wound for a wound],” the pei of the first “פצע” is vowelized with a segol


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:17:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:17:1)

**אָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי בְּלִבִּי וְגוֹ'.** לְפִיכָךְ אֲנִי אוֹמֵר, אֶת־הַכֹּל שׁוֹפֵט הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַחַר זְמַן; וְאַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁמִּתְעַכֵּב הַדָּבָר, סוֹפוֹ לָבֹא אֶל שַׁעְתּוֹ. כִּי שָׁעָה יֵשׁ לְכָל־חֵפֶץ, אַף לְפֻרְעָנוּת. וְלִפְקֻדַּת הַדִּין יֵשׁ עֵת מָתַי יָבֹא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I said in my heart, etc.** Therefore, I say everything is judged by the Holy One, Blessed Is He, in due time, and even though the matter [appears] delayed, it will eventually reach its time, for there is a time for everything, even for retribution and for the visitation of judgement there is a time that comes.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:17:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:17:2)

**וְעַל כָּל־הַמַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׂעָשָׂה** הָאָדָם, **שָׁם** יִשְׁפְּטוּהוּ בְּבֹא עֵת הַפְּקֻדָּה. שָׁם בְּאוֹתוֹ הָעֵת נִתָּן זְמַן לְכָל־הַמַּעֲשֶׂה לְהִשָּׁפֵט עָלָיו. אַבַּב חוּטְרֵי מִילֵי וְאַבֵּי דָרֵי חוּשְׁבְּנָא:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And for every deed that man did, they will judge him there when the time of the visitation arrives; there at that time, a time is given for every deed, to be judged for it.** At the gate of the fold there are words, but in the stall are there is strict accounting.³⁹

footnotes:
³⁹ See Maseches Shabbos 32a. The shepherd waits until the goats are by the gate of the fold, and then he rebukes and punishes them.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:18:1)

**אָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי בְּלִבִּי.** בִּרְאוֹתִי כָל־זֹאת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I said to myself.** When I observed all this.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:18:2)

**עַל־דִּבְרַת בְּנֵי הָאָדָם.** שֶׁאָחֲזוּ לָהֶם מִדַּת גַּאֲוָה לִנְהוֹג שְׂרָרָה וְרַבָּנוּת בִּקְטַנִּים מֵהֶם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Concerning the state of man.** Who adopted the trait of haughtiness, to exert rulership and superiority over those smaller than they.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:18:3)

**לְבָרָם.** (סְפָרִים אֲחֵרִים: לְבָרְרָם) הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהוֹדִיעָם שֶׁאֵין שְׂרָרוֹתָם כְּלוּם, וּלְהַרְאוֹתָם שֶׁהֵם, וְאַף הַשָּׂרִים וְהַמְּלָכִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[God] has set them apart.** (Other texts: **[God] should clarify for them.**) The Holy One, Blessed Is He, to notify them that their rulership is nought, and to show them and also the princes and the kings —


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:18:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:18:4)

**בְּהֵמָה הֵמָּה לָהֶם.** כִּשְׁאָר בְּהֵמָה וְחַיָּה הֵמָּה לְעַצְמָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**They themselves are as beast.** Like other beasts and animals they are to themselves.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:19:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:19:1)

**כִּי מִקְרֶה בְנֵי־הָאָדָם וְגוֹ'.** הוּא טַעַם הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר נָתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִקְרֶה וּפֶגַע לִבְנֵי אָדָם, וְיֵשׁ מִקְרֶה וּפֶגַע לִבְהֵמָה, וּמִקְרֶה אֶחָד לִשְׁנֵיהֶם נָתַן, כִּי, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁזֶּה מֵת, כַּךְ זֶה מֵת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For the fate of men, etc.** This is the reason for the matter, that the Holy One, Blessed Is He, gave a fate and a mishap to mankind, and there is a fate and a mishap to the beasts, and He gave one fate to them both, for just as this one dies, so does that one die.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:19:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:19:2)

**וּמוֹתַר הָאָדָם מִן־הַבְּהֵמָה אָיִן.** וְיִתְרוֹנוֹ וְהַצְּלָחָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם יוֹתֵר מִן הַבְּהֵמָה אֵינוֹ נִרְאֶה מִשֶׁמֵּת, כִּי הַכֹּל נֶהְפָּךְ לִהְיוֹת הֶבֶל לָשׁוּב אֶל הֶעָפָר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And the superiority of man over beast is nil.** And the superiority and the success of man over beast is not apparent after he dies, for everything is converted to nothingness by returning to the dust.⁴⁰

footnotes:
⁴⁰ This is true when a person spends his life only in the accumulation of wealth. (Metsudas Dovid)


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:21:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:21:1)

**מִי יוֹדֵעַ.** כְּמוֹ, "מִי יוֹדֵעַ יָשׁוּב". מִי הוּא אֲשֶׁר מֵבִין וְנוֹתֵן לֵב שֶׁרוּחַ בְּנֵי אָדָם הִיא הָעוֹלָה לְמַעְלָה וְעוֹמֶדֶת בְּדִין, וְרוּחַ הַבְּהֵמָה הִיא הַיּוֹרֶדֶת לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ, וְאֵין לָהּ לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן, וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְנַהֵג כִּבְהֵמָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מַקְפֶּדֶת עַל מַעֲשֶׂיהָ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Who knows.** As in, “Whoever knows, let him repent,”⁴¹ [i.e., he] who understands, knows that “the spirit of man” ascends on high and stands in judgment, “and the spirit of the beast” descends to the earth, and does not have to give a justification and reckoning.⁴² [Therefore,] one must not behave like a beast which does not [have to] care about its deeds.

footnotes:
⁴¹ Yoel 2:14.
⁴² However, there are a very few who understand and know this distinction which differentiates the spirit of man from beast. (Metsudas Dovid)


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:1
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:22:1)

**וְרָאִיתִי.** בְכָל־אֵלֶּה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**I perceived.** In all of these.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:2
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:22:2)

**כִּי אֵין טוֹב.** לָאָדָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**That there is nothing better.** For man.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:3
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:22:3)

**מֵאֲשֶׁר יִשְׂמַח הָאָדָם בְּמַעֲשָׂיו.** מִיְגִיעַ כַּפָּיו יִשְׂמַח וְיֹאכַל, וְלֹא לְהַרְחִיב כִּשְׁאוֹל נַפְשׁוֹ לַחֲמוֹד לְהִתְעַשֵּׁר, לְהַרְבּוֹת לֹא לוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**That man should rejoice in his work.** He should rejoice and eat in the toil of his hands, but not to widen his desire like the grave, to covet riches, to accumulate that which is not rightfully his.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:4
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:22:4)

**כִּי הוּא חֶלְקוֹ.** יְגִיעַ כַּפָּיו הוּא הַחֵלֶק הַנִּתָּן לוֹ מִשָּׁמַיִם, וּבוֹ יִשְׂמַח:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For that is his lot.** The toil of his hands, that is the portion given him from Heaven, and with it he should rejoice.


###### Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:5
[Rashi on Ecclesiastes 3:22:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Ecclesiastes/r/3:22:5)

**כִּי מִי יְבִיאֶנּוּ לִרְאוֹת.** לְאַחַר שֶׁמֵּת, בְּמֶה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לְבָנָיו, אִם יַצְלִיחוּ גַם הֵם בָּעשֶׁר שֶׁאָסַף הוּא וְהֵנִיחַ לָהֶם, אוֹ לֹא יַצְלִיחוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For who will bring him to see.** After he dies, what his children will have; if they, too, will be successful with the wealth that he accumulated and left over for them, or whether they will not prosper.⁴³

footnotes:
⁴³ Alternatively, for who will bring him to see the reward and punishment after death.