Ecclesiastes 3:8 tells us that there is “a time to love and a time to hate.” This verse is part of a poem describing opposites in life – times of peace and war, times of tearing down and building up, etc. In the context of the passage, the Preacher (likely Solomon) is making the point that God appoints seasons and purposes for all things. There are appropriate occasions for love and also appropriate occasions for hate.
This reference to “hate” can be jarring to modern readers. We typically think of hate as something that is universally wrong. However, the word translated “hate” here can also mean “reject” or “renounce.” It is not necessarily referring to hating people, but rather rejecting or renouncing sinful behaviors and practices. There are times when godly hatred should motivate believers to decisively reject wickedness and stand firmly for what is right and true (Psalm 97:10, Psalm 101:3-4, Romans 12:9).
In specific contexts, Scripture speaks of hating evil (Proverbs 8:13), falsehood (Psalm 119:163), bloodshed (Amos 5:21), pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13), faithlessness (Psalm 31:6), and more. God Himself is said to hate evil (Deuteronomy 12:31, Psalm 5:5-6). This kind of holy hatred flows out of a fervent love for God and His righteous standards.
Thus, the Preacher’s mention of “a time to hate” implies that alongside the many times in life when love should mark our actions, there are also occasions that call for morally rejecting, renouncing, and even hating wickedness in appropriate ways. As part of living wisely and making the most of our time (Ephesians 5:16), we must learn to discern when love or hate is the proper response.
At the same time, we should be very cautious in how we apply this principle. Scripture strongly emphasizes loving others – even enemies (Matthew 5:44). God’s people must guard against harboring bitterness, spite, or unhealthy anger behind claims of “righteous hatred.” Our hatred should be focused primarily against the evil itself, not the people committing it. Like God, we should desire that evildoers repent and find redemption (Ezekiel 18:23).
The wise counsel of Ecclesiastes 3:8 does not contradict the Bible’s overarching emphasis on love. Rather, it adds an important nuance – that while love is central to God’s plan, there are times when holy hatred of evil is also appropriate and necessary.
In summary, this verse teaches that just as there are appropriate times for showing affection, kindness and love, there are also necessary occasions for decisively rejecting and expressing hatred toward wickedness, falsehood, and sin. This does not justify hatred of people, but rather moral outrage and opposition to the evil itself. Applying this principle requires deep wisdom, given our human tendency toward selfishness and unrighteous anger. But rejecting and exposing evil is part of pursuing godliness in a fallen world.
1. The meaning of “love” and “hate” in context
To properly understand Ecclesiastes 3:8, we need to start by looking at the meaning of the words “love” and “hate” in the verse and how they are used in the surrounding context:
- The Hebrew word for “love” here is ‘ahab. It conveys affection, fondness, and community. It can refer to intimate human relationships or commitment to God (Deuteronomy 6:5).
- The term translated “hate” is sane. It can mean “to dislike, reject, despise.” It is the opposite of ‘ahab love. In Scripture, sane hate sometimes means “rejecting evil” more than an intense, angry emotion.
- The Preacher’s point is that God appoints proper times for contrasting human experiences and responses.
Other opposites mentioned in the poem – weeping/laughing, mourning/dancing – convey seasons and purposes, not emotions that are always evil.
So in this context, the verse suggests there are appropriate times for season of affection, and times when rejecting/renouncing evil is the right response.
2. “Hating” evil in biblical thought
The Bible speaks often about hating and rejecting wickedness:
- God hates evil and we should imitate Him (Psalm 5:4-6, Psalm 45:7, Proverbs 6:16-19)
- Hating evil involves rejecting it from our lives and keeping God’s commands (Psalm 119:113, Psalm 101:3-4)
- Evil deeds are to be hated (Zechariah 8:17), especially pride, lies, murder, and discord (Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 8:13)
- God’s people must hate what is false (Psalm 119:163), love righteousness, and stand against wickedness (Psalm 97:10, Psalm 101:3)
This kind of “hating evil” flows from loving what is good and pure. It motivates decisively rejecting sin, not harboring personal spite.
3. Balance: hating evil but loving people
Scripture also contains cautions about hate:
- We are to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36)
- Hatred stirs up conflict, so we should be slow to anger (Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 15:18)
- Unhealthy anger does not produce God’s righteousness (James 1:19-20)
- Hating people shows spiritual blindness (1 John 2:9-11)
The ideal balance is hating the evil itself, while showing Christ-like love and compassion to all people, even evildoers. This allows us to reject wickedness without becoming embittered, vengeful, or self-righteous.
4. Application: wisdom needed
Putting Ecclesiastes 3:8 into practice requires wisdom and discernment:
- Prayerfully examine motives – is it sincere or selfish anger?
- Focus opposition on evil itself, not people.
- Reject evil graciously – speak truth with love (Ephesians 4:15).
- Seek to redeem evildoers; balance truth and mercy as God does.
- Trust God’s timing – some seasons call for confronting evil; others emphasize patient love.
With the Spirit’s guidance, we will gain insight to know when love or hate is the right response in a given situation.
5. The big picture: God’s plan
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us:
- God is sovereign over all seasons and purposes (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11)
- Life has complexities we can’t fully grasp, but God understands (Ecclesiastes 3:11, 7:23-25)
- Fearing God and keeping His commands should define our lives (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
This wise perspective allows us to balance love and hate properly as we seek to honor God. With humility, we can trust Him to guide us to respond rightly in each situation as it arises.