Ecclesiastes 3:16 (KJV)

Passage

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "moreover", "under", "place", "judgment", "wickedness", "righteousness", and "iniquity". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "moreover" and "under", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "That which hath been is now and..." into verse 17's "I said in mine heart God shall...", so "moreover" and "under" belong inside that flow. In Ecclesiastes context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "moreover" and "under" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.