Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Cross-reference
Genesis 14:14-17 records Abraham's military rescue of Lot, demonstrating a 'time for war' as declared in Ecclesiastes 3:8.
Joshua 8:1-29 describes the battle of Ai, an explicit instance of a 'time for war' from Ecclesiastes 3:8.
Joshua 11:23 notes the land had rest from war, a clear example of the 'time for peace' mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:8.
2 Samuel 10:6-19 narrates David's war with the Ammonites and Arameans, illustrating a 'time for war' from Ecclesiastes 3:8.
1 Kings 5:4 describes Solomon's peace on every side, embodying the 'time for peace' in Ecclesiastes 3:8.
2 Chronicles 19:2 condemns loving those who hate the Lord, illustrating a wrong application of the 'time to love' from Ecclesiastes 3:8.
In 2 Chronicles 20:30, Jehoshaphat's realm has rest — directly fulfilling the 'time for peace' from Ecclesiastes 3:8 after the war.
Luke 14:26 demands a radical 'hate' for family in discipleship, directly exemplifying a 'time to hate' from Ecclesiastes 3:8.
Revelation 2:2 commends the Ephesian church for hating false apostles, embodying the 'time to hate' in Ecclesiastes 3:8.
In 2 Samuel 11:1, spring is the time for war but David stays home — showing the 'time for war' and the consequence of ignoring it.
Psalm 139:21 expresses hatred for God's enemies — a biblical example of righteous hatred aligned with the 'time to hate' here.
Ezekiel 16:8 describes God's covenant love for Israel at the right time — embodying the 'time to love' from this verse.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-29, Jehoshaphat faces war but God fights for him — illustrating the 'time for war' and God's deliverance.
Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church — a concrete application of the 'time to love' in marriage.
In Ephesians 5:29, the principle that no one hates their own body contrasts with the 'time to hate' in Ecclesiastes 3:8, showing hate is not self-directed.
Titus 2:4 instructs older women to teach younger women to love their families, echoing the 'time to love' as an active duty.