Ecclesiastes 3 · Verse 15

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 3:15, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 3:15 in other translations

BSBWhat exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
WEBThat which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
ASVThat which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
YLTWhat is that which hath been? already it is, and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.
DARBYThat which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.
BBEWhatever is has been before, and what is to be is now; because God makes search for the things which are past.
WebsterThat which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

What does Ecclesiastes 3:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Resumption of Ec 1:9. Whatever changes there be, the succession of events is ordered by God's "everlasting" laws (Ec 3:14), and returns in a fixed cycle. requireth that ... past--After many changes, God's law requires the return of the same cycle of events, as in the past, literally, "that which is driven on." The Septuagint and Syriac translate: "God requireth (that is, avengeth) the persecuted man"; a transition to Ec 3:16, 17. The parallel clauses of the verse support English Version.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 That which hath been is now - God governs the world now, as he has governed it from the beginning; and the revolutions and operations of nature are the same now, that they have been from the beginning. What we see now, is the same as has been seen by those before us. And God requireth that which is past - i.e., That it may return again in its proper order. The heavens themselves, taking in their great revolutions, show the same phenomena. Even comets are supposed to have their revolutions, though some of them are hundreds of years in going round their orbits. But in the economy of grace, does not God require that which is past? Whatever blessing or influence God gives to the soul of man, he intends shall remain and increase; and it will, if man be faithful. Reader, canst thou produce all the secret inspirations of his Spirit, all the drawings of his love, his pardoning mercy, his sanctifying grace, the heavenly-mindedness produced in thee, thy holy zeal, thy spirit of prayer, thy tender conscience, the witness of the Spirit, which thou didst once receive and enjoy? Where are they? God requireth that which is past.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good…

Read the full comment on Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 →

Ecclesiastes 3:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַה\־mah-whateverH4100
שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙she.ha.Yahthat <it> isH1961
כְּבָ֣רke.Var[has been] alreadyH3528
ה֔וּאHu'itH1931
וַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.Sherand [that] whichH834
לִהְי֖וֹתlih.Yot[is] to beH1961
כְּבָ֣רke.VaralreadyH3528
הָיָ֑הha.Yahit has beenH1961
וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.Himand <the> GodH430
יְבַקֵּ֥שׁye.va.Keshhe will seekH1245
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נִרְדָּֽף\׃nir.Daf[what] was pursuedH7291

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 3:15

  • Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

    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. 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 6:10

    That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
which hath.
1:9,10
past. Heb. driven away.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

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.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Aquello que fué, ya es: y lo que ha de ser, fué ya; y Dios restaura lo que pasó.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ce qui est a déjà été, et ce qui est à venir est déjà arrivé, et Dieu ramène ce qui est passé.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was da ist, war längst, und was sein wird, ist längst gewesen; und Gott sucht das Vergangene wieder hervor.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quod factum est, ipsum permanet; quæ futura sunt jam fuerunt, et Deus instaurat quod abiit.