Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” New Living Translation For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? English Standard Version Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? Berean Standard Bible Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? King James Bible Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? New King James Version Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? New American Standard Bible Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? NASB 1995 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? NASB 1977 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? Legacy Standard Bible Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? Amplified Bible Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? Christian Standard Bible Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? Holman Christian Standard Bible Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? American Standard Version Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth? Contemporary English Version Who really knows if our spirits go up and the spirits of animals go down into the earth? English Revised Version Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth? GOD'S WORD® Translation Who knows whether a human spirit goes upward or whether an animal spirit goes downward to the earth? Good News Translation How can anyone be sure that the human spirit goes upward while an animal's spirit goes down into the ground? International Standard Version Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth? NET Bible Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal's spirit descends into the earth? New Heart English Bible Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" Webster's Bible Translation Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWho knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? World English Bible Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWho knows the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth? Young's Literal Translation Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth? Smith's Literal Translation Who shall know the spirit of the sons of man? it ascending to above, and the spirit of cattle, it going downwards to the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? Catholic Public Domain Version Who knows if the spirit of the sons of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? New American Bible Who knows if the life breath of mortals goes upward and the life breath of beasts goes earthward? New Revised Standard Version Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWho knows whether the spirit of men goes upward and the spirit of the beasts goes downward under the earth? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And who knows if the spirit of the children of men ascends above, and the spirit of beasts descends under the earth? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth? Brenton Septuagint Translation And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context From Dust to Dust…20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. 21Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? 22I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?… Cross References Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Job 34:14-15 If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, / all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. Psalm 104:29-30 When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. / When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth. Psalm 146:4 When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish. Isaiah 42:5 This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: Ezekiel 37:5-6 This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life. / I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” Daniel 12:2 And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. / We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. / For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ... Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Philippians 1:23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. / After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Treasury of Scripture Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth? knoweth Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 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; … 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. of man that goeth upwards Jump to Previous Animal Ascends Beast Beasts Below Breath Children Descends Downward Downwards Earth Goes Heaven Rises Spirit Upward Upwards WhetherJump to Next Animal Ascends Beast Beasts Below Breath Children Descends Downward Downwards Earth Goes Heaven Rises Spirit Upward Upwards WhetherEcclesiastes 3 1. by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail11. is an excellence in God's works 16. as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast Who knows This phrase reflects the theme of uncertainty and the limits of human understanding, a recurring motif in Ecclesiastes. The rhetorical question emphasizes the mystery of life and death, echoing the wisdom literature's exploration of human limitations. It invites readers to acknowledge that some aspects of existence are beyond human comprehension, aligning with the biblical theme of God's omniscience versus human finitude. if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom. He reflects on the mysteries of life and the limitations of human understanding. 2. Jerusalem The central place of worship and the setting for much of Solomon's life and reign. It serves as the backdrop for his reflections in Ecclesiastes. 3. Humanity and Animals The verse contrasts the destinies of human and animal spirits, prompting reflection on the nature of life and death. Teaching Points The Mystery of Life and DeathEcclesiastes 3:21 challenges us to acknowledge the limits of human understanding regarding life after death. It encourages humility and reliance on God's revelation. The Unique Value of Human Life While the verse questions the fate of the spirit, other scriptures affirm the unique value and eternal destiny of human life, created in God's image. The Call to Live with Eternity in Mind This passage invites believers to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that our actions and faith have implications beyond this life. Trust in God's Sovereignty In the face of uncertainty about the afterlife, believers are called to trust in God's sovereign plan and His promises regarding eternal life. Reflecting on Our Mortality The verse serves as a reminder of our mortality, prompting us to consider how we live our lives and the legacy we leave behind. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 3:21?2. How does Ecclesiastes 3:21 challenge our understanding of life after death? 3. What does Ecclesiastes 3:21 suggest about the spirit's destination after death? 4. How can Ecclesiastes 3:21 deepen our trust in God's sovereign plan? 5. Connect Ecclesiastes 3:21 with Genesis 2:7 regarding the breath of life. 6. How should Ecclesiastes 3:21 influence our daily walk with God? 7. What does Ecclesiastes 3:21 imply about the afterlife for humans and animals? 8. How does Ecclesiastes 3:21 challenge the belief in human superiority over animals? 9. Does Ecclesiastes 3:21 suggest uncertainty about the soul's destination after death? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 3? 11. What happens to pets during the Rapture? 12. What defines the essence of the human spirit? 13. What happens to pets during the Rapture? 14. Does Ecclesiastes 3:19, comparing humans and animals, contradict other scriptures that distinguish the uniqueness of human souls? What Does Ecclesiastes 3:21 Mean Who knowsEcclesiastes 3:21 opens with, “Who knows…?”—a question that sounds uncertain, yet points us to the limits of human observation “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Solomon is highlighting how, from a strictly earthly vantage point, the destinies of people and animals look identical. We see bodies die, but we do not directly see what happens to the spirit. Scripture, however, lifts the curtain: • Job admitted the same limitation—“But where can wisdom be found?” (Job 28:12)—then concluded that true insight comes from God’s revelation. • Paul affirms that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Jesus assures, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:32), underscoring that our confidence rests on what He declares, not merely on what we observe. if the spirit of man rises upward Here Solomon speaks of the possibility that something unique happens to humans at death. Scripture elsewhere removes the uncertainty: • “Then the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). • At His last breath Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46), affirming immediate conscious life with God. • Paul longed “to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23) and taught that to be “away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Taken together, these passages reveal that human beings—created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)—possess an eternal spirit that “rises upward,” entering God’s presence upon death. and the spirit of the animal Animals, too, possess the “breath of life” (Genesis 1:30), yet Scripture distinguishes them from humanity: • “Man’s spirit is the lamp of the LORD” (Proverbs 20:27), a God-given capacity for fellowship that animals do not share. • Ecclesiastes 3:19 notes that both man and beasts die, sharing a common mortality, yet without attributing everlasting consciousness to animals. • Psalm 36:6 declares that God preserves both man and beast, showing His care for all creatures while still differentiating their purposes. Thus Solomon sets animals alongside humans to sharpen the contrast: both breathe, both die, but only mankind bears the image of God with an eternal destiny. descends into the earth? The phrase echoes Genesis 3:19—“for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Observably, animal bodies decay and “descend into the earth,” and without divine revelation that is all one could assert. Scripture supports this natural end: • “When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust” (Psalm 104:29). • Unlike human spirits, no biblical text speaks of animal spirits entering heaven or appearing before God for judgment (compare Revelation 20:12-15, where only people are judged). The downward movement of animal life contrasts with the upward call placed on humanity, reinforcing the unique responsibility and hope entrusted to those made in God’s likeness. summary Ecclesiastes 3:21 uses a probing question to expose human limitations: apart from God’s revelation, no one can tell whether the human spirit rises or the animal spirit simply ends. The rest of Scripture answers decisively. Humans, formed in God’s image, have an eternal spirit that returns to Him, while animals fulfill their earthly purpose and then pass away. Solomon’s rhetorical “Who knows…?” invites us to look beyond “under the sun” observations and trust the clear testimony of God’s Word: for those who fear Him, death is not an end but an upward departure into His presence. (21) The LXX., followed by a great body of interpreters, ancient and modern, translate, "Who knoweth whether the spirit of man goeth upward?" &c, and this agrees better with the context of this paragraph. The sceptical thought is, "We see that death resolves into dust (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7; see also Ecclesiasticus 41:10) the bodies of men and animals alike; and if it be alleged that there is a difference as to what becomes of their spirits, can this be asserted with the certainty of knowledge?" The writer here seems to have read both Psalm 49:14 and Proverbs 15:24. . . . Verse 21. - Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? The statement is here too categorically rendered, though, for dogmatical purposes, the Masorites seem to have punctuated the text with a view to such interpretation. But, as Wright and others point out, the analogy of two other passages (Ecclesiastes 2:19 and Ecclesiastes 6:12), where "who knoweth" occurs, intimates that the phrases which follow are interrogative. So the translation should be, "Who knoweth as regards the spirit (ruach) of the sons of men whether it goeth upward, and as regards the spirit (ruach) of the beast whether it goeth downward under the earth?" Vulgate, Quis novit si spiritus, etc.? Septuagint, Τίς εῖδε πνεῦμα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰ ἀναβαίνει αὐτὸ ἄνω; "Who ever saw the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goeth upward?" The Authorized Version, which gives the Masoretic reading, is supposed to harmonize better with the assertion at the end of the book (Ecclesiastes 12:7), that the spirit returns to the God who gave it. But there is no formal denial of the immortality of the soul in the present passage as we render it. The question, indeed, is not touched. The author is confirming his previous assertion that, in one point of view, man is not superior to brute. Now he says, looking at the matter merely externally, and taking not into consideration any higher notion, no one knows the destiny of the living powers, whether God deals differently with the spirit of man and of beast. Phenomenally, the principle of life in both is identical, and its cessation is identical; and what becomes of the spirit in either case neither eye nor mind can discover. The distinction which reason or religion assumes, viz. that man's spirit goes upward and the brute's downward, is incapable of proof, is quite beyond experience. What is meant by "upward" and "downward" may be seen by reference to the gnome in Proverbs 15:24, "To the wise the way of life goeth upward, that he may depart from Sheol beneath." The contrast shows that Sheol is regarded as a place of punishment or annihilation; this is further confirmed by Psalm 49:14, 15, "They are appointed as a flock for Sheol: death shall be their shepherd... their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for he shall receive me." Koheleth neither denies nor affirms in this passage the immortality of the soul; that he believed in it we learn from other expressions; but he is not concerned with parading it here. Commentators quote Lucretius' sceptical thought ('De Rer. Nat.,' 1:113-116) - "Ignoratur enim quae sit natura animal, "We know not what the nature of the soul, |
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