ECCLESIASTES 3:15

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

To get what Ecclesiastes 3:15 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

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

High popularity: 260 searches a month
Popularity relative to other verses in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 using average monthly Google searches.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Hebrew Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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Use the buttons below to get details on the Hebrew word and view related Bible verses that use the same root word.
That which hath been מַה Properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses been
is now; כְּבָ֣ר Properly, extent of time, i.e., a great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto now
and that ה֔וּא He (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are and that
which וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר Who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc which
is to be שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ To exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) is to be
hath already כְּבָ֣ר Properly, extent of time, i.e., a great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto already
been; לִהְי֖וֹת To exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) been
and God וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים Gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative God
requireth יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ To search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after requireth
that which is past. נִרְדָּֽף׃ To run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by) past

Verse Context

See Ecclesiastes 3:15 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.

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  • 13  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

  • 17  I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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