Parallel Verses
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?
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?
International Standard Version
Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends 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?"
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 The whole are going unto one place, the whole have been from the dust, and the whole are turning back unto the dust. 21 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? 22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it is his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?
Names
Cross References
Ecclesiastes 12:7
And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.
Luke 16:22-23
And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the messengers to the bosom of Abraham -- and the rich man also died, and was buried;
John 14:3
and if I go on and prepare for you a place, again do I come, and will receive you unto myself, that where I am ye also may be;
Acts 1:25
to receive the share of this ministration and apostleship, from which Judas, by transgression, did fall, to go on to his proper place;'
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands -- age-during -- in the heavens,
2 Corinthians 5:8
we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23
for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,