Ecclesiastes 3:2

To be born. Some regard the verb form as active and translate it, “a time to bring forth.” However, most scholars contend that the verb should be understood intransitively, and hence prefer the translation, “to be born.”

To die. Birth and death are, naturally, the two most important events in a person’s life. A man has no control over the time of his entrance into the world, and under ordinary circumstances little control over the time of his exit from it.

To plant. This expression corresponds to the one that precedes it, “to plant” being the counterpart of “to bring forth,” and “to pluck up,” of “to die.” The one is concerned with human life and the second with plant life.

To pluck up. Literally, “to root up.” There comes a time when even the finest fruit trees must be cut down.