Ecclesiastes 3:20

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַכֹּ֥ל הוֹלֵ֖ךְ אֶל־מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד הַכֹּל֙ הָיָ֣ה מִן־הֶֽעָפָ֔ר וְהַכֹּ֖ל שָׁ֥ב אֶל־הֶעָפָֽר׃

Transliteration

The-kōl hôlēḵ to-māqôm ʾeḥāḏ, the-kōl hāyâ from-the-ʿāp̄ār wə-the-kōl šāḇ to-the-ʿāp̄ār

Grammar Details

• *ha-kōl*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the all/everything
• *hôlēḵ*: verb, qal active participle, masculine singular - going
• *ʾel*: preposition - to/toward
• *māqôm*: noun, masculine singular - place
• *ʾeḥāḏ*: adjective, masculine singular - one
• *hāyâ*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - it was
• *min*: preposition - from
• *he-ʿāp̄ār*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the dust
• *wə*: conjunction - and
• *šāḇ*: verb, qal active participle, masculine singular - returning

Word Meanings

• *hôlēḵ*: going/walking/proceeding
• *māqôm*: place/location/site
• *ʾeḥāḏ*: one/single/same
• *hāyâ*: was/became/came from
• *ʿāp̄ār*: dust/soil/earth/ashes
• *šāḇ*: returning/turning back/reverting

Referenced Verses

• Gen 3:19 : 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
• Job 34:15 : 15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
• Ps 104:29 : 29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
• Eccl 6:6 : 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
• Eccl 9:10 : 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
• Eccl 12:7 : 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
• Job 7:9 : 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
• Job 10:9-9 : 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? 10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
• Job 17:13 : 13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
• Job 30:24 : 24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
• Gen 25:8 : 8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
• Gen 25:17 : 17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
• Num 27:13 : 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
• Dan 12:2 : 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
• Eccl 3:21 : 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
• Ps 49:14 : 14 Like sheep they are laid{H8804)} in the grave; death shall feed{H8799)} on them; and the upright shall have dominion{H8799)} over them in the morning; and their beauty{H8675)} shall consume{H8763)} in the grave from their dwelling.