Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?

Leeser Tanakh

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

20Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.

22And so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:7When the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return unto God who gave it.—

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 3:21