Ecclesiastes 3:21

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ ר֚וּחַ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם הָעֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְמָ֑עְלָה וְר֙וּחַ֙ הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה הַיֹּרֶ֥דֶת הִ֖יא לְמַ֥טָּה לָאָֽרֶץ׃

Transliteration

Who yôḏēaʿ rûaḥ bənê the-ʾāḏām the-ʿōlâ hîʾ to-māʿlâ wə-rûaḥ the-bəhēmâ the-yōreḏeṯ hîʾ to-maṭṭâ to-the-ʾāreṣ

Grammar Details

*mî*: interrogative pronoun - who
*yôḏēaʿ*: verb, qal active participle, masculine singular - knowing
*rûaḥ*: noun, feminine singular construct - spirit of
*bənê*: noun, masculine plural construct - sons of
*hā-ʾāḏām*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the man/mankind
*hā-ʿōlâ*: definite article + verb, qal active participle, feminine singular - the ascending
*hîʾ*: personal pronoun, feminine singular - she/it
*lə*: preposition - to/toward
*māʿlâ*: noun, feminine singular - upward/above
*wə*: conjunction - and
*ha-bəhēmâ*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the beast
*ha-yōreḏeṯ*: definite article + verb, qal active participle, feminine singular - the descending
*maṭṭâ*: noun, feminine singular - downward/below
*lā*: preposition - to
*ʾāreṣ*: noun, feminine singular - earth/land

Word Meanings

*yôḏēaʿ*: knowing/perceiving/understanding
*rûaḥ*: spirit/breath/wind
*bənê*: sons/children/descendants
*ʿōlâ*: ascending/going up/rising
*māʿlâ*: upward/above/on high
*bəhēmâ*: beast/animal/cattle
*yōreḏeṯ*: descending/going down
*maṭṭâ*: downward/below/beneath
*ʾāreṣ*: earth/land/ground

ℹ️

About this Translation

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

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.
Luke 16:22-23 : 22 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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
John 14:3 : 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.
Acts 1:25 : 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
2 Cor 5:1 : 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Cor 5:8 : 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Phil 1:23 : 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to 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 3:18-20
3 verses
82%
18I 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.
19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Eccl 3:22
80%
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Eccl 6:10-12
3 verses
79%
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Eccl 12:7-8
2 verses
77%
7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl 2:19-22
4 verses
74%
19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Eccl 3:10-12
3 verses
74%
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
Eccl 8:7
73%
7For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
Eccl 1:3
73%
3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Job 34:14-15
2 verses
73%
14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Eccl 8:17
73%
17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
Job 14:10
73%
10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Eccl 9:3
73%
3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
1 Cor 2:11
72%
11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Job 20:4
71%
4Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
Eccl 3:14
71%
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Job 32:8
71%
8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Eccl 5:16
71%
16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Eccl 11:5
71%
5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Eccl 6:6
70%
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
Eccl 1:5
70%
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
Eccl 9:1
70%
1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Job 7:17
70%
17What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Eccl 9:10
70%
10Whatsoever 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 2:24-26
3 verses
70%
24There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl 4:16
70%
16There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl 2:11
70%
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ps 144:3
70%
3LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
Isa 2:22
70%
22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Ps 49:12
69%
12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth{H8799)} not: he is like{H8738)} the beasts that perish{H8738)}.
Job 28:13
69%
13Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Eccl 4:3
69%
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Prov 20:24
69%
24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Prov 20:27
69%
27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Job 35:11
69%
11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
Eccl 8:14
69%
14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.
Eccl 6:8
69%
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
Eccl 1:13
69%
13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.