Ecclesiastes 1:10 kjv

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 nkjv

Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 niv

Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 esv

Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 nlt

Sometimes people say, "Here is something new!" But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 10 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 1:10 declares that anything claimed as new is merely a reoccurrence of what has long existed. The Preacher poses a rhetorical question, directly challenging the perception of genuine innovation or unprecedented events, concluding that all phenomena and human endeavors ultimately echo previous ages, reinforcing the inherent cyclical and repetitive nature of life "under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 1 10 Context

Ecclesiastes 1:10 is an integral part of Qoheleth's introductory thesis concerning the vanity and ceaseless cycles of life "under the sun." Beginning in 1:2, the Preacher states his core assertion that "all is vanity" (hebel), meaning transient, futile, or meaningless from a human-centered perspective. Verses 4-9 describe the endless, repetitive movements of generations, the sun, wind, and rivers, all returning to their origin and never truly achieving anything definitively new. Verse 10 directly applies this observation from the natural world to human experience, challenging the very notion of innovation in history. It sets the stage for the subsequent chapters, where Qoheleth embarks on various pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, wealth, building projects—only to find that none offer lasting satisfaction precisely because they cannot escape this fundamental truth: nothing is truly novel or permanent apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 1 10 Word analysis

• "Is there anything" (הֲיֵשׁ דָּבָר, hayesh davar): This interrogative form is a rhetorical question, common in wisdom literature. It emphatically presumes a negative answer, indicating that no truly unprecedented thing exists. It highlights the Preacher's direct challenge to common perceptions of novelty.
• "new" (חָדָשׁ, chadash): This Hebrew word refers to something entirely novel, fresh, or unprecedented in essence, not merely recently created or invented. Qoheleth denies that any human endeavor or experience is fundamentally groundbreaking when viewed from the perspective of time's long cycles. This is distinct from God's ability to bring forth genuinely "new" spiritual or cosmic realities.
• "It has already been" (כְּבָר הָיָה, k'var hayah): This phrase emphasizes pre-existence and ongoing reality. Hayah is the Hebrew verb for "to be" or "to come to pass," used here in the perfect tense, asserting that what appears current has a historical precedent. The adverb "already" (k'var) accentuates the long history of this repetition.
• "for ages" (מִן־הָעוֹלָמִים, min-ha'olamim): This employs the plural form of 'olam (עוֹלָם), which can mean "eternity," "long duration," or "ancient times." The plural "ages" or "times long past" intensely stresses an extremely prolonged, perhaps even seemingly endless, antiquity and continuous pattern of events. It implies that these same phenomena have recurred over immeasurable spans of time.
• "which were before us": This phrase explicitly connects the "ages" of the past to previous generations, reinforcing the idea that the experiences, discoveries, and even perceived innovations of the present generation are not unique but have been seen and lived by countless others throughout human history. This serves to diminish the sense of pride or uniqueness associated with contemporary human achievements.

Words-group analysis:

• "Is there anything of which it may be said, 'See, this is new'?": This complete rhetorical question sets up a strong denial. It captures the human tendency to point to accomplishments and exclaim their unprecedented nature. The question form immediately negates this human presumption, leading directly to the Preacher's point of profound cyclicality. It challenges any humanistic pride in progress or distinctiveness.
• "It has already been in existence for ages which were before us": This declarative statement provides the firm answer to the rhetorical question. It firmly establishes the principle that nothing truly original exists "under the sun," highlighting the continuous cycle of human experience and the profound depth of historical recurrence. It places all human innovation and perceived progress within a cosmic context of repetition, ultimately contributing to the book's theme of vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1 10 Bonus section

• "Under the Sun" Boundary: The repeated phrase "under the sun" in Ecclesiastes is crucial. It defines the Preacher's scope of observation—limited to human existence and observation on earth, apart from explicit divine revelation or eternal hope. This confined perspective is key to understanding why "nothing new" is found, as it deliberately excludes God's unique capacity for true, transformative newness (e.g., creating the cosmos, new heavens and earth, new hearts, new covenants).
• A Wisdom Paradox: The verse presents a paradox common in wisdom literature: the deep, long-standing wisdom acknowledges that human endeavors are largely repetitive, yet the pursuit of wisdom itself is commended within the book as a better path (Ecc 7:11-12). This tension underscores the limited value of human effort without a vertical, divine perspective.
• Intellectual Humility: Ecclesiastes 1:10 fosters intellectual humility by challenging any age's perceived unique brilliance. It reminds us that our problems, our inventions, and our joys have echoes in generations long past, urging us to learn from history rather than constantly dismiss it in favor of a superficial concept of "progress."

Ecclesiastes 1 10 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:10 functions as a core statement within Qoheleth's investigation into life's meaning. It articulates his belief that true innovation, apart from the divine, does not exist. This is not a denial of superficial change or technological advancement, but a profound observation about the fundamental human condition and the patterns of the world. No matter how advanced society becomes or what new discoveries are made, the underlying human experiences, emotions, and problems remain constant. This perspective undercuts human pride and self-sufficiency, suggesting that seeking ultimate meaning or lasting significance in earthly novelties is futile because they are merely recycled elements from previous eras. The verse compels a recognition that true "newness" or breakthrough fulfillment can only be found in what transcends the cyclical nature of life "under the sun"—namely, God's sovereign intervention and His power to make all things genuinely new, particularly in spiritual and redemptive terms.