Ecclesiastes 3:21
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth?
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
KJV1611 – Modern English
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?
King James Version 1611 (Original)
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
Who knoweth{H3045} the spirit{H7307} of man,{H1121} whether it goeth{H5927} upward,{H4605} and the spirit{H7307} of the beast,{H929} whether it goeth{H3381} downward{H4295} to the earth?{H776}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
Who knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)} the spirit{H7307} of man{H1121}{H120} that goeth{H5927}{(H8802)} upward{H4605}, and the spirit{H7307} of the beast{H929} that goeth{H3381}{(H8802)} downward{H4295} to the earth{H776}?
Coverdale Bible (1535)
Who knoweth the sprete of man yt goeth vpwarde, and the breth of the beest yt goeth downe in to the earth?
Geneva Bible (1560)
Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth?
Bishops' Bible (1568)
Who knoweth the spirite of man that goeth vpwarde, & the breath of the beast that goeth downe to the earth?
Authorized King James Version (1611)
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Webster's Bible (1833)
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
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?
American Standard Version (1901)
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
American Standard Version (1901)
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
Bible in Basic English (1941)
Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth?
World English Bible (2000)
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 12:7 : 7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Luke 16:22-23 : 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
- John 14:3 : 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am, you may be also.
- Acts 1:25 : 25 To take up the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
- 2 Cor 5:1 : 1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- 2 Cor 5:8 : 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- Phil 1:23 : 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better;
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Eccl 3:18-203 verses82%
18 I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man, that God is testing them to show them that they are like animals.
19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.
20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
- 80%
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
- Eccl 6:10-123 verses79%
10 Whatever exists has already been given its name, and it is known what mankind is; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
- Eccl 12:7-82 verses77%
7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'
- Eccl 2:19-224 verses74%
19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
20 So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.
21 For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?
- Eccl 3:10-123 verses74%
10 I have seen the burden that God has laid on the human race.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.
- 73%
7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell anyone what is to come?
- 73%
3 What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
- Job 34:14-152 verses73%
14 If He were to set His heart to it and gather to Himself His spirit and breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and mankind would return to dust.
- 73%
17 then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.
- 73%
10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and where is he?
- 73%
3 This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.
- 72%
11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person that is within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
- 71%
4 Do you not know this from ancient times, since man was placed on the earth,
- 71%
14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it nor taken from it. God does this so that people will fear Him.
- 71%
8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding.
- 71%
16 Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.
- 71%
5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how bones are formed in a pregnant woman's womb, so you cannot understand the workings of God who makes everything.
- 70%
6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?
- 70%
5 The sun rises, and the sun sets, and it hurries back to where it rises.
- 70%
1 So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.
- 70%
17 What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention,
- 70%
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- Eccl 2:24-263 verses70%
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?
26 To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 70%
16 There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- 70%
11 Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
- 70%
3 Lord, what is man that You care for him, or a son of man that You think of him?
- 70%
22 Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
- 69%
12 Their inward thought is that their houses will last forever, and their dwelling places for all generations; they call their lands by their own names.
- 69%
13 Mankind does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
- 69%
3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
- 69%
24 A person's steps are directed by the Lord; how then can anyone understand their own way?
- 69%
27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord, searching their inmost being.
- 69%
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky.
- 69%
14 There is a futility that takes place on the earth: righteous people receive what the wicked deserve, and wicked people receive what the righteous deserve. I said, 'This too is vanity.'
- 69%
8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?
- 69%
13 I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with!