Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:21 · BSB

Ecclesiastes 3:21 in context

The verses around it, from Ecclesiastes 3.

17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

18 I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

19 For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

20 All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?

22 I 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?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:21 in other translations

KJV

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

ASV

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

ERV

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

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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible, which is free of copyright restrictions for use on websites. Read the full Bible on Great Faith.