Ecclesiastes 1:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →What has been will be again; under the sun the same patterns of life simply repeat, and nothing is truly new.
What Does Ecclesiastes 1:9 Mean?
The Preacher moves from nature's cycles to human history and finds the same rhythm. What has happened will happen again; what people do has been done before. 'Under the sun' the events of the world circle back on themselves, and nothing is finally new.
This can feel deflating, but it also tells the truth about life apart from God: novelty alone cannot save us, because every new thing soon joins the old. The genuinely new must come from beyond the closed circle of 'under the sun.' Scripture promises exactly that in the God who at last declares, 'Behold, I make all things new,' the freshness this world could never produce on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ecclesiastes 1:9
What does Ecclesiastes 1:9 mean?
What has been will be again; under the sun the same patterns of life simply repeat, and nothing is truly new.