Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Ecclesiastes 3:20–21

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

2 selected · 8 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

10 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 20

  1. Genesis 3:19Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

    19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  2. Job 34:15Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

  3. Ecclesiastes 12:7Rank 3 from verse 20
    Open

    7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

  4. Ecclesiastes 3:21Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

  5. Ecclesiastes 6:6Rank 5 from verse 20
    Open

    6¶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

From verse 21

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:7Rank 1 from verse 21
    Open

    7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

  2. 2 Corinthians 5:1Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    1FOR 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.

  3. John 14:3Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    3And 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.

  4. Luke 16:22–23Rank 4 from verse 21
    Open

    22And 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;

    23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

  5. Philippians 1:23Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 3:20

COMBINED MEANING

place

↗

Sense 1: A physical location or room. Sense 2: A position or office. Sense 3: An occasion, circumstance, or passage. Sense 4: To set, fix, locate, or establish.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

turn

↗

Sense 1: To change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change. Sense 2: One’s time or occasion in an order or succession.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

again

↗

Another time; once more; back to a former place or condition; or in return.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Ecclesiastes 3:21

COMBINED MEANING

spirit

↗

Sense 1: An immaterial living or personal being distinct from a body. Sense 2: The inward life, disposition, mind, or courage of a person. Sense 3: The Holy Spirit, the divine Spirit of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Selected passage

21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Selected passage

22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.