Ecclesiastes 3:20

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Ecclesiastes 3:18–22 · Berean Standard Bible

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?

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 3:21

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

Ecclesiastes 6:6

even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Genesis 25:8

And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 25:17

Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

Numbers 27:13

After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;

Job 7:9

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

Job 17:13

If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

Job 30:24

Yet no one stretches out his hand to a ruined man when he cries for help in his distress.

Psalms 49:14

Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

Genesis 3:19

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Job 10:9

Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?

Job 10:10

Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

Job 34:15

all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

Psalms 104:29

When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.

Daniel 12:2

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.