Ecclesiastes 3:21

Ecclesiastes 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?
• New Living Translation (NLT)For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?

Context of Ecclesiastes 3:21

19Surely 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. 20All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” 22So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Ecclesiastes 3:21 word by word

מִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ ר֚וּחַ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם הָעֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְמָ֑עְלָה וְר֙וּחַ֙ הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה הַיֹּרֶ֥דֶת הִ֖יא לְמַ֥טָּה לָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who knowethיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• of manבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• that goethעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• upwardמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
• of the beastבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• that goethיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• downwardמַ֫טָּהmaţţâh · beneathH4295
• to the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:21

• Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
• Luke 16:22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
• John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
• Acts 1:25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
• Philippians 1:23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who knoweth the spirit of man - I think the meaning of this important verse is well taken by the above able writer: - The nobler part of man, 'tis true, survives The frail corporeal frame: but who regards The difference? Those who live like beasts, as such Would die, and be no more, if their own fate Depended on themselves. Who once reflects, Amidst his revels, that the human soul, Of origin celestial, mounts aloft, While that of brutes to earth shall…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. 21the spirit of man rises: Compare Ecclesiastes 12:7.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Who knoweth--Not doubt of the destination of man's spirit (Ec 12:7); but "how few, by reason of the outward mortality to which man is as liable as the beast and which is the ground of the skeptic's argument, comprehend the wide difference between man and the beast" (Is 53:1). The Hebrew expresses the difference strongly, "The spirit of man that ascends, it belongeth to on high; but the spirit of the beast that descends, it belongeth to below, even to…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:21

• Animals
• Death
• Immortality
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Dance
• Judge
• Psalms, Book of
• Synagogue, the Great
• Text of the Old Testament

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