Ecclesiastes 3:21

21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

Ecclesiastes 3:21 in Other Translations

KJV
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
ESV
21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
NLT
21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?
MSG
21 Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth.
CSB
21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:21 In-Context

19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Cross References 1

  • 1. Ecclesiastes 12:7
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.