Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knows if the spirit of the sons of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

In Context

20And all things continue on to one place; for from the earth they were made, and unto the earth they shall return together.

22And I have discovered nothing to be better than for a man to rejoice in his work: for this is his portion. And who shall add to him, so that he may know the things that will occur after him?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.

John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will return again, and then I will take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be.

2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that, when our earthly house of this habitation is dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

Philippians 1:23For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing,

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 3:17-22

Immutability of God's Counsel; The Extent of Mortality. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 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… Read the whole commentary →

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