Ecclesiastes 3:21
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
KJV
Quis novit si spiritus filiorum Adam ascendat sursum, et si spiritus jumentorum descendat deorsum ?
Vulgate
καὶ τίς οἶδεν πνεῦμα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, εἰ ἀναβαίνει αὐτὸ εἰς ἄνω; καὶ πνεῦμα τοῦ κτήνους, εἰ καταβαίνει αὐτὸ κάτω εἰς γῆν;
LXX
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
ASV
מִ֣י יוֹדֵ֗עַ ר֚וּחַ בְּנֵ֣י הָ/אָדָ֔ם הָ/עֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא לְ/מָ֑עְלָ/ה וְ/ר֨וּחַ֙ הַ/בְּהֵמָ֔ה הַ/יֹּרֶ֥דֶת הִ֖יא לְ/מַ֥טָּה לָ/אָֽרֶץ
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
12 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Historic Christian voices
5 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§703The Word of God and his Breath are at the origin of the being and life of every creature:63 It belongs to the Holy Spirit to rule, sanctify, and animate creation, for he is God, consubstantial with the Father and the Son.... Power over life pertains to the Spirit, for being God he preserves creation in the Father through the Son.64
Chapter 24.—How We Must Understand that Breathing of God by Which “The First Man Was Made a Living Soul,” And that Also by Which the Lord Conveyed His Spirit to His Disciples When He Said, “Receive Ye the Holy Ghost.” Some have hastily supposed from the words, “God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul,624624 Gen. ii. 7.” that a soul was…
Cross-references
- 2Cor 5:1 — 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.
- Eccl 3:20 — All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- Eccl 8:8 — There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are
- Eccl 12:7 — Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
- John 14:3 — 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.
- Luke 16:22 — 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;
- Phil 1:23 — For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: