Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth? + 3:21 Some modern versions have Who knows the spirit of mankind, which goes upward, and the spirit of animals, which goes downward into the earth?

Unlocked Literal Bible

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

20Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.

22So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Cross References

Ecclesiastes 12:7before the dust returns to the earth where it came from, 2 and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 1

John 14:3If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am you will also be.

2 Corinthians 5:1We know that if the earthly dwelling that we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God. It is a house not made by human hands, but an eternal house, in heaven.

Philippians 1:23For I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is far better,

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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