A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
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 writer is saying that life has seasons for both building up and tearing down, for closeness and for stepping back.
📚 Historical Context
Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom literature in the Old Testament, traditionally attributed to King Solomon and written during the time of ancient Israel, where people reflected on the fleeting nature of life and the sovereignty of God. This verse is part of a poetic passage in chapter 3 that lists various seasons for human activities, illustrating that God has appointed times for everything under heaven, such as building or destroying, which could relate to practical tasks like farming or relationships. In the cultural context, stones symbolized everyday tools for construction or barriers, reflecting the cyclical rhythms of life that ancient Israelites experienced.
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