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Ecclesiastes 3:21

Death and lossEternal lifeDoubt

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.

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

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?

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?
KJV
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
WEB
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”
ASV
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
DARBY
Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?
BLB
Who knows [if] the spirit of the sons of man, it is ascending upward, and the spirit of the beast, it is desending downward into the earth?
ÅB
Hvem vet om menneskenes ånd stiger opp, og om dyrets ånd farer ned til jorden?
OTB
Hvem kan avgjøre om menneskets ånd stiger oppover og om dyrets ånd går ned i jorden?
B1930
Hvem vet om menneskenes ånd stiger op, og om dyrets ånd farer ned til jorden?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 12:7

    Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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  • John 14:3

    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

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  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

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  • Luke 16:22–23

    And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

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  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

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  • 2 Corinthians 5:8

    We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

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  • Acts 1:25

    That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

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