KJV ORIGINAL
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
There is a time to throw stones away, and a time to collect stones together; a time to hug and hold close, and a time to keep your distance;
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is saying that life has seasons for both building up and tearing down, for closeness and for stepping back.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the famous 'time for everything' passage in Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon around 950 BC. In ancient times, clearing stones from fields was necessary for farming, while gathering stones was done for building walls, houses, or monuments. The embrace imagery reflects the natural rhythms of human relationships and social customs of the time.
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