Ecclesiastes 3:20

Ecclesiastes 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
• New International Version (NIV)All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
• English Standard Version (ESV)All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
• New King James Version (NKJV)All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

Context of Ecclesiastes 3:20

18I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.” 19For the [earthly] fate of the sons of men and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no preeminence or advantage for man [in and of himself] over an animal, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. 21Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? 22So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?

Ecclesiastes 3:20 word by word

הַכֹּ֥ל הוֹלֵ֖ךְ אֶל־מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד הַכֹּל֙ הָיָ֣ה מִן־הֶֽעָפָ֔ר וְהַכֹּ֖ל שָׁ֥ב אֶל־הֶעָפָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• All goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• unto oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• all are of the dustעָפָר‛âphâr · dustH6083
• and all turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:20

• Ecclesiastes 3:21Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?
• Ecclesiastes 6:6Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment—do not both go to one place [the grave]?”
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.
• Genesis 25:8Then Abraham breathed his last and he died at a good old age, an old man who was satisfied [with life]; and he was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death].
• Numbers 27:13When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother was gathered;
• Job 7:9As a cloud vanishes and is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) does not come up.
• Job 17:13But if I look to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) as my home, If I make my bed in the darkness,
• Job 30:24“However, does not one falling in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand? Or in his disaster [will he not] therefore cry out for help?
• Psalms 49:14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead); Death will be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form and beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, So that they have no dwelling [on earth].
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
• Job 10:9Remember now, that You have made me as clay; So will You turn me into dust again?
• Job 34:15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
• Psalms 104:29You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their breath, they die And return to their dust.
• Daniel 12:2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake (resurrect), these to everlasting life, but some to disgrace and everlasting contempt (abhorrence).

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20All go unto one place - "Man was born To die, nor aught exceeds in this respect The vilest brute. Both transient, frail, and vain, Draw the same breath; alike grow old, decay, And then expire: both to one grave descend; There blended lie, to native dust return'd." - C.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 That great anomaly in the moral government of this world, the seemingly unequal distribution of rewards and punishments, will be rectified by God, who has future times and events under His control Ecclesiastes 3:16-17. As for people, they are placed by God, who is their teacher, in a humble condition, even on a level with inferior animals, by death, that great instance of their subjection to vanity Ecclesiastes 3:18-19, which reduces to its…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is another Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this world as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as they are, from…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20from dust...to dust: The Teacher talks about God's judgment on human rebellion in Eden (see Genesis 3:19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Ec 3:1-22. Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Ec 3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good (Ec 3:9, 10); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends (Ec 3:11). God allows man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts (Ec 3:12, 13). What consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:20

• Animals
• Corruption
• Death
• Dust
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Dance
• Judge
• Death
• Dust
• Psalms, Book of
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings