Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth?
New American Standard Bible
Who knows that the
King James Version
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Holman Bible
Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?
A Conservative Version
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it 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?
Amplified
Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?
Bible in Basic English
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?
Darby Translation
Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?
Julia Smith 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.
King James 2000
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?
Lexham Expanded Bible
For no one knows [whether] the spirit of a human ascends [to heaven] and [whether] the spirit of the beast descends to the ground!
Modern King James verseion
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the breath of the beast that goeth down into 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?"
The Emphasized Bible
Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of men, whether it, ascendeth, above, - or the spirit of the beast, whether it, descendeth, below, to the earth?
Webster
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to 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?"
Youngs 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?
Topics
Interlinear
Yada`
`alah
ירד
Yarad
down, descend, variant, fell, let, abundantly, down by, indeed, put off, light off, out, sank, subdued, take
Usage: 378
Ma`al
References
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 3:21
Verse Info
Context Readings
God's Mysterious Plan Allows Injustice To Exist In The World
20 All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth? 22 I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 12:7
then man's dust will go back to the earth, returning to what it was, and the spirit will return to the God who gave it.
Luke 16:22-23
"One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
John 14:3
And since I'm going away to prepare a place for you, I'll come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am.
Acts 1:25
to serve in this office of apostle, from which Judas left to go to his own place."
2 Corinthians 5:1
We know that if the earthly tent we live in is torn down, we have a building in heaven that comes from God, an eternal house not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23
Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better.