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 also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 19For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. 21For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? 22So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

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 3:21For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?
• Ecclesiastes 6:6He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use?
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
• Genesis 25:8and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.
• Numbers 27:13After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron,
• Job 7:9Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back.
• Job 17:13What if I go to the grave and make my bed in darkness?
• Job 30:24“Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help in their trouble.
• Psalms 49:14Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates.
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
• Job 10:9Remember that you made me from dust— will you turn me back to dust so soon?
• Job 34:15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.
• Psalms 104:29But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.
• Daniel 12:2Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

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