Ecclesiastes 3 15

Ecclesiastes 3:15 kjv

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

Ecclesiastes 3:15 nkjv

That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 niv

Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 esv

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 nlt

What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Ecclesiastes 3 verses

Ecclesiastes 3 15 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 3:15 primarily declares that human existence and history operate in predictable, recurring cycles: "What has been is what will be, and what is to be has already been." From the Teacher's perspective "under the sun," there is nothing fundamentally new or genuinely progressive, but rather a constant repetition of events, experiences, and patterns. This cyclical view leads into a profound theological assertion: "and God seeks what has passed away." This latter phrase, subject to different interpretations, either emphasizes God's active role in calling past deeds and occurrences to account, ensuring nothing is forgotten and hinting at ultimate judgment or remembrance, or it signifies God's intervention on behalf of the downtrodden and persecuted within these unending cycles, providing justice where human systems fail. Both interpretations underscore God's unwavering sovereignty and purposeful engagement amidst life's perceived monotony and human limitations.

Ecclesiastes 3 15 Context

Ecclesiastes 3:15 stands as a concluding summary to the famous "a time for everything" poem (3:1-8). Having illustrated life's diverse experiences through binary pairs (a time to be born, a time to die, etc.), Qoheleth moves to a deeper reflection on the human condition. He states that despite humanity's toil, there is little lasting profit "under the sun" (v. 9). Yet, God has made everything beautiful in its time and put eternity in human hearts, though humans cannot fully grasp God's work (v. 10-11). The Teacher encourages simple enjoyment of life's blessings as gifts from God (v. 12-13). Verse 14 affirms that God's work is eternal and unchangeable, meant for humanity to revere Him. Verse 15 directly follows this assertion of divine sovereignty, applying the cyclical nature of time—observed repeatedly in the book (e.g., Ecc 1:4, 9)—to emphasize God's overarching control and interaction with historical repetition, specifically concerning the past or those who have suffered within time's recurring injustices. The historical context reflects a wisdom tradition pondering human existence, possibly during or after the Persian/Hellenistic periods, addressing the challenges of monotony and injustice in a world where God's ultimate justice was not always immediately apparent.

Ecclesiastes 3 15 Word analysis

• "What has been" (שֶׁהָיָה - shehaya): Refers to the totality of past events, experiences, and realities in human history. It signifies the established course and accumulated record of existence.

• "is what will be" (הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה - hu sheyihyeh): Denotes continuity and predictability. The patterns, behaviors, and outcomes observed in the past are destined to recur in the future. This emphasizes a fixed, unchanging aspect of "life under the sun."

• "and what is to be" (וְשֶׁהֶאֱיָה - vesheheayah or a variant leading to similar meaning): Points to future occurrences.

• "has already been" (כְּבָר הוּא - kevar hu): Reinforces the cyclical theme. The future is not truly new but merely a re-manifestation or repetition of what has previously transpired, suggesting a lack of true novelty or permanent human progress. This implies an intrinsic limit to human innovation "under the sun."

• "and God" (וְהָאֱלֹהִים - veha'Elohim): Marks a critical transition from observations about natural and human patterns to divine action. Elohim, a common biblical name for God, highlights His absolute power, majesty, and creative authority as the supreme Being, actively involved in the ongoing process of time and existence.

• "seeks" / "requires" / "calls to account" (יְבַקֵּשׁ - yevakkesh): This Hebrew verb carries a range of meanings including to "seek," "search for," "demand," "require," or "investigate." It implies active divine engagement, not passive observation. God is not distant but is purposeful in His involvement.

• "what has passed away" / "that which is past" / "the persecuted" (אֶת־נִרְדָּף - et-nirdaph): This is the most critically debated term.

  • Nirdaph (נִרְדָּף) is the Niphal (passive) participle of the root radaph (רָדַף), which means "to pursue, chase, persecute." Therefore, nirdaph literally means "that which is pursued," "the pursued," or "the persecuted."
  • Interpretation 1: The Past / What has Passed Away: This reading, common in translations like the ESV ("what has passed away"), connects nirdaph metaphorically to the transient nature of time and events that vanish into the past. In this view, God actively "seeks" or "requires an account" of all that has occurred, meaning nothing is forgotten or inconsequential to Him, suggesting ultimate divine memory and future reckoning. This ties in with God's sovereignty over history.
  • Interpretation 2: The Persecuted / The Downtrodden: This interpretation views nirdaph literally as those who are pursued, oppressed, or unjustly treated. In this case, God actively "seeks" out and cares for the marginalized and wronged, bringing divine justice to those who suffer within life's recurring cycles of injustice. This resonates with broader biblical themes of God's concern for the afflicted.Both interpretations convey God's purposeful and engaged relationship with the seemingly unchanging realities of human experience.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "What has been is what will be, and what is to be has already been": This repetitive structure emphasizes the enduring cyclical nature of events and the unchanging essence of human experience "under the sun." It establishes a sense of historical futility from a human perspective, a consistent theme in Qoheleth's quest for meaning. From God's perspective, however, this very constancy testifies to His unchanging decrees and eternal purpose.
  • "and God seeks what has passed away/the persecuted": This segment introduces divine agency and moral dimension. It moves from observations of physical/historical cycles to God's purposeful interaction with time and His creation. This acts as a theological counterpoint to the apparent fatalism of the first clause, providing either assurance of divine accountability for all things or hope for ultimate justice for those who suffer. It frames life's recurring patterns within a divine framework of purpose and oversight.

Ecclesiastes 3 15 Bonus section

• Counter to Linear Humanism: This verse challenges simplistic humanistic views of perpetual progress, suggesting that foundational human struggles and experiences are recurrent, independent of technological or social advancements. It implies that true change and ultimate meaning are found beyond merely human striving.
• The Significance of Yevakkesh (seeks): The active verb "seeks" signifies God's intentionality and not just His knowledge. He is not passively observing but actively engaging with time and history. This reinforces the concept of God as an involved Ruler and Judge, rather than a detached Creator.
• Promoting the Fear of God: When read in conjunction with Ecc 3:14, the understanding that "whatever God does endures forever... so that people should fear him," and then 3:15, that "God seeks what has passed away" (or the persecuted), provides a powerful basis for reverence. God's unchangeable works, His detailed memory of past events, and His eventual justice create compelling reasons for humanity to approach Him with awe and respect.
• Timeless Relevance: The tension between human experience of sameness/futility and divine purpose/justice makes this verse perpetually relevant. It speaks to ongoing concerns about historical cycles, social injustice, and the search for enduring meaning in life.

Ecclesiastes 3 15 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:15 serves as a profound summary of Qoheleth's observations on the cyclical nature of life "under the sun" and, critically, on God's sovereignty over it. The first part of the verse, "What has been is what will be, and what is to be has already been," articulates a sense of existential recurrence. For humanity, life appears to unfold as an unending repetition of prior events, emotions, and struggles. This cyclical view can induce a sense of vanity and pointlessness, where progress is illusory and genuine novelty elusive. Yet, this bleak observation is dramatically uplifted by the second half: "and God seeks what has passed away" (or "the persecuted"). This vital assertion demonstrates that while time may be repetitive and history may rhyme, God is not an absent spectator. He is actively involved, either by eternally remembering and ultimately bringing to account every deed, ensuring nothing in the cyclical flow of time is lost from His perspective and judgment; or by meticulously seeking out and providing justice for those who are marginalized and afflicted within the constant churn of human affairs. Both understandings reinforce God's ultimate control, purpose, and unchangeable character (as alluded to in Ecc 3:14), inviting humanity to fear and revere Him. The verse therefore balances a realistic appraisal of life's repetitive nature with the comforting and challenging truth of divine oversight and accountability.