Ecclesiastes 3:20
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 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.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.
- KJV
- All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- WEB
- All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- ASV
- All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- DARBY
- All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.
- BLB
- All are going to one place; all are from the dust, and all return to the dust.
- ÅB
- De farer alle til ett sted; de er alle blitt til av støvet, og de vender alle tilbake til støvet.
- OTB
- Alle vender tilbake til samme sted; alle kommer fra støv, og til støv vender alle tilbake.
- B1930
- De farer alle til ett sted; de er alle blitt til av støvet, og de vender alle tilbake til støvet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Read in contextJob 34:15
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Read in contextNumbers 27:13
And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
Read in contextJob 10:9–10
Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
Read in contextJob 7:9
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 3:21
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Read in context