Definition of this, too, shall pass in the Idioms Dictionary. this, too, shall pass phrase. What does this, too, shall pass expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. “This too shall pass” is not a direct quote from the Bible, but it is a phrase that is often associated with the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 , the author reflects on the cycle of life. The ancient adage “ This too shall pass ” represents one of humanity’s most enduring insights about the nature of impermanence and the value of temporal perspective. Jewish Folklore The phrase " this too shall pass " does not appear to originate in ancient Jewish scripture. It first appears in Jewish literature in the nineteenth century. The phrase was first attributed to King Solomon, in non-Jewish sources, with variations of the following story that appear have emerged in the mid-19th century†.
