The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:15 Explained

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.

YLT: What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.

Darby: That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.

ASV: That 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That 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?

Chapter Summary: Ecclesiastes 3

1  by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail
11  is an excellence in God's works
16  as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast

What do the individual words in Ecclesiastes 3:15 mean?

What has been already is and what is to be already has been and God requires an account - of what is past
מַה־ שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לִהְי֖וֹת כְּבָ֣ר הָיָ֑ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־ נִרְדָּֽף

שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙  has  been 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּבָ֣ר  already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כְּבָר  
Sense: already, long ago, a great while.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  and  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לִהְי֖וֹת  is  to  be 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּבָ֣ר  already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כְּבָר  
Sense: already, long ago, a great while.
הָיָ֑ה  has  been 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  and  God 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ  requires  an  account 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נִרְדָּֽף  of  what  is  past 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.

What are the major concepts related to Ecclesiastes 3:15?

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