Ecclesiastes 1:9 kjv

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 nkjv

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 niv

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 esv

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 nlt

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.

Ecclesiastes 1 verses

Ecclesiastes 1 9 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 1:9 articulates the Preacher's central observation that all earthly existence, actions, and events exhibit an unchanging cyclical pattern. What has happened before will occur again, and what has been accomplished in the past will be done once more. There is no fundamental novelty or lasting originality found within the temporal, human realm, termed "under the sun," but rather a continuous repetition of core experiences and outcomes. This statement underpins the book's initial theme of the vanity or futility inherent in life apart from divine purpose.

Ecclesiastes 1 9 Context

Ecclesiastes 1:9 is a foundational verse that encapsulates the Preacher's (Qoheleth's) central argument in the opening chapter of the book. Having established his thesis in verse 2 ("Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!"), and posed the question of ultimate gain in verse 3, he illustrates the repetitive and seemingly meaningless cycles observed in nature—the sun, wind, and rivers (vv. 5-7). Verse 8 extends this weariness to human perception and insatiable desires. Against this backdrop, verse 9 serves as a concise summary and profound statement of principle: the perceived novelty in human existence is an illusion, for everything ultimately cycles back to what has already occurred. This outlook sets the stage for Qoheleth's comprehensive exploration of life "under the sun"—a philosophical and experiential journey undertaken from a human-centric, often godless, perspective, aiming to demonstrate the futility of seeking lasting meaning or satisfaction in temporal endeavors without reference to divine purpose.

Ecclesiastes 1 9 Word analysis

• What has been (מַה שֶּׁהָיָה mah sheh-hayah): Literally "that which was." This phrase refers to conditions, states of being, or patterns of existence that have already occurred in the past. It suggests an established reality that continuously reasserts itself.
• will be again (הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה hu sheh-yihyeh): Literally "that which it will be." The Hebrew does not contain "again" but the immediate repetition of the previous phrase ("what has been is what will be") strongly implies repetition. It emphasizes the deterministic and unyielding continuation of past patterns into the future. The verb "to be" is central, indicating enduring existence.
• what has been done (מַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂה mah sheh-na'asah): Literally "that which was done/made." This phrase shifts focus from states of being to human actions, achievements, efforts, and occurrences. It encompasses the entirety of human endeavor and the events of history.
• will be done again (הוּא שֶּׁיֵּעָשֶׂה hu sheh-ye'aseh): Literally "that which it will be done/made." Similar to "will be again," the repetition signifies that even specific actions and their outcomes merely re-manifest previously observed patterns. It refers to a cycle of human activity.
• there is nothing (אֵין כָּל ein kol): A strong negating phrase meaning "there is not any" or "not at all." It underscores the absolute absence of true novelty.
• new (חָדָשׁ chadash): Signifies something fresh, unprecedented, genuinely original, or innovative. In Qoheleth's context, it refers to a breakthrough or a change that fundamentally alters the pattern of existence or leads to lasting fulfillment.
• under the sun (תַּחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ tachat ha-shemesh): A key idiomatic phrase found exclusively in Ecclesiastes (and Job once). It delineates the realm of Qoheleth's observation: life from an earthly, temporal, material perspective, experienced by humans on this planet, apart from the divine, eternal, or heavenly perspective. This phrase acts as a crucial boundary, explaining why human experience might seem futile; it specifically limits the scope to a realm where true, eternal novelty is not found.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "What has been... will be again, what has been done... will be done again": This construction uses perfect and imperfect tenses in Hebrew to indicate that the past condition ("has been") is precisely the future condition ("will be"), and the past action ("has been done") is precisely the future action ("will be done"). This powerful parallelism stresses the complete and inescapable cyclical nature of reality, encompassing both passive states and active accomplishments. It suggests that all perceived innovations are merely variations on ancient themes, lacking true substance or lasting impact in changing the fundamental human condition or the pattern of the world.
• "there is nothing new under the sun": This declarative statement is the ultimate conclusion derived from the preceding observations. The negation "nothing new" implies that fundamental problems, human desires, natural processes, and societal patterns simply repeat. The crucial qualifier "under the sun" defines the scope of this pronouncement. It implies that within the confines of earthly, mortal human experience, disconnected from the eternal, truly groundbreaking and meaning-altering "newness" does not arise from human effort or natural cycles. This limitation points to the potential for true newness to exist beyond "under the sun" – i.e., in the divine or eternal realm.

Ecclesiastes 1 9 Bonus section

• Theological Contrast: This verse highlights a key tension in biblical thought. While Qoheleth focuses on repetition "under the sun," the broader biblical narrative, especially in the New Testament, speaks powerfully of God initiating genuine newness: a new covenant, a new creation in Christ, a new heaven and earth. This contrast underscores that the Preacher's pessimistic (or realist) conclusion is conditioned by his "under the sun" perspective, setting the stage for a later, higher truth where God is the source of all true transformation and everlasting novelty.
• Polemics against Human Hubris: Ecclesiastes 1:9 can be seen as a gentle polemic against human arrogance regarding innovation and progress. While humans often pride themselves on their inventions and societal advancements, Qoheleth suggests that from an ultimate, timeless perspective, these are but variations on existing themes. The fundamental human condition—its toil, sorrow, desires, and death—remains unchanged, implying that salvation or lasting satisfaction cannot be found through human ingenuity alone.
• Historical Recurrence: Many philosophical and historical theories, such as theories of cyclical history, echo Qoheleth's observation. They suggest that despite apparent progress, human societies and conflicts often revert to similar patterns. However, Qoheleth frames this within a theological context, prompting a search for meaning beyond these repetitive cycles.

Ecclesiastes 1 9 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 1:9 profoundly articulates Qoheleth's central premise for his exploration of life's meaning: within the sphere of human experience and endeavor ("under the sun"), there is no true novelty or ultimate progress. This verse isn't denying superficial advancements or temporary inventions; new tools and specific historical events certainly occur. Rather, it speaks to the unchanging, foundational patterns of existence: human nature, motivations, relational dynamics, and the ultimate outcomes of striving remain consistent throughout generations. The cyclical nature observed in the natural world (sun, wind, rivers, mentioned in preceding verses) is mirrored in human activity. This continuous repetition, without genuine breakthrough or lasting fulfillment arising from within the system itself, contributes significantly to Qoheleth's diagnosis of "vanity" (hevel). The verse forces readers to question the ultimate value of their strivings if all simply recurs without leading to something genuinely unprecedented or eternally significant. This perspective naturally guides the reader towards considering that any real "newness" or lasting purpose must originate from beyond the earthly, transient realm—a point explored as the book progresses.