Ecclesiastes 3:19

Ecclesiastes 3:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
• New International Version (NIV)Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.

Context of Ecclesiastes 3:19

17I thought to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed. 18I also thought to myself, “It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting. 20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return. 21Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:19 word by word

כִּי֩ מִקְרֶ֨ה בְֽנֵי־הָאָדָ֜ם וּמִקְרֶ֣ה הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וּמִקְרֶ֤ה אֶחָד֙ לָהֶ֔ם כְּמ֥וֹת זֶה֙ כֵּ֣ן מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה וְר֥וּחַ אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל וּמוֹתַ֨ר הָאָדָ֤ם מִן־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ אָ֔יִן כִּ֥י הַכֹּ֖ל הָֽבֶל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For that which befallethמִקְרֶהmiqreh · accidentH4745
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• beastsבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• even one thingאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• them: as the one diethמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• the otherזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• breathרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• hath no preeminenceמוֹתָרmôthâr · advantageH4195
• vanityהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:19

• Ecclesiastes 2:16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies – just like the fool!
• Psalms 49:12but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.
• Psalms 92:6The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.
• 2 Samuel 14:14Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.
• Job 14:10But man dies and is powerless; he expires – and where is he?
• Psalms 104:29When you ignore them, they panic. When you take away their life’s breath, they die and return to dust.
• Ecclesiastes 2:20So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
• Psalms 39:5Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.
• Psalms 89:47Take note of my brief lifespan! Why do you make all people so mortal?

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts - From the present comparison of great men to beasts, the author takes occasion to enforce the subject by mentioning the state of mankind in general, with respect to the mortality of their bodies; and then, by an easy transition, touches in the next verse on the point which is of such infinite consequence to religion. As the one dieth, so dieth the other - Animal life is the same both in the man…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. 19When it comes to breathing and dying, people are like animals, but we have other advantages (for example, see Genesis 1:26–28).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Literally, "For the sons of men (Adam) are a mere chance, as also the beast is a mere chance." These words can only be the sentiments of the skeptical oppressors. God's delay in judgment gives scope for the "manifestation" of their infidelity (Ec 8:11; Psa 55:19; 2Pe 3:3,4). They are "brute beasts," morally (Ec 3:18; Jude 10); and they end by maintaining that man, physically, has no pre-eminence over the beast, both alike being "fortuities." Probably…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:19

• Animals
• Death

In the dictionaries

• Dance
• Judge
• Chance
• Preeminence
• 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