Ecclesiastes 3:21
"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward?.... There is indeed a difference between a man and a beast; though they have one breath, they have not one spirit or soul; man has a rational and immortal soul, which, when he dies, goes upwards to God that gave it; to be judged by him, and

disposed of by him, in its proper apartment, until the day of the resurrection of the body; and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? when the beast dies, its spirit goes down to the earth, from whence it came, and is resolved into it, and is no more. But who is it that sees, or can see and know with the eyes of his body, the difference of these two spirits, or the ascent of the one, and the descent of the other?, Or who knows by the dint of reason, by the strength of his own understanding, without a divine revelation, that man has an immortal soul which goes upwards at death, when that of a beast goes downwards? No man, clearly and fully, as appears from the doubts and half faith of the wisest Heathens concerning it: or rather who knows and considers this difference between the spirit of a man and the spirit of a beast, and thinks within himself what a precious and immortal soul he has, and is concerned for the salvation of it? Very few; and hence it is they live and die like beasts, as they do. The Midrash interprets this of the souls of the righteous that go up to heaven, and of the souls of the wicked that go down to hell.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (14 words)

H4310 מִי
Definition:

WSG 123 f.): —who ?(τίς;quis ?)Genesis 3:11הִגִּיד לְךָ מִיwho told thee ?Genesis 24:65מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶהwhois this man ?Genesis 27:18מי אתה בניwhoart thou, my son ?Numbers 22:9;Judges 1:1;Judges 6: WSG 123 f.): —who ?(τίς;quis ?)Genesis 3:11הִגִּיד לְךָ מִיwho told thee ?Genesis 24:65מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶהwhois this man ?Genesis 27:18מי אתה בניwhoart thou, my son ?Numbers 22:9;Judges 1:1;Judges 6:

Possible Meanings:
  • who? (semantic_range)
  • whose (semantic_range)
  • who among (semantic_range)
  • whose (semantic_range)
  • whosoever (semantic_range)
H3045 יָדַע
Definition:

1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene 1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene

Possible Meanings:
  • know (semantic_range)
  • know (semantic_range)
  • cause to know (semantic_range)
  • inform (semantic_range)
H7307 רוּחַ
Definition:

8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת 8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת

H1121 בֵּן
Definition:

25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:
  • son (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • children (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • young men (semantic_range)
H0120 אָדָם
Definition:

27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co 27man, mankind(Phoenicianאדם, Sabeanid., CISiv.1,l.4and others; compare Assyrianadmu,young(of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722identification with Arabiccollectivecreatures) — Singular absolute except co

Possible Meanings:
  • carnelian (semantic_range)
  • redness (semantic_range)
H5927 עָלָה
Definition:

15+; 3 feminine singularעָֽלְתָהGenesis 40:10+;עָלָ֑תָהJeremiah 14:2;1 Samuel 1:22; 2masculine singularעָלִיתָGenesis 49:4+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲלֶהGenesis 2:6+,יַ֫עַלGenesis 44:33+,ו 15+; 3 feminine singularעָֽלְתָהGenesis 40:10+;עָלָ֑תָהJeremiah 14:2;1 Samuel 1:22; 2masculine singularעָלִיתָGenesis 49:4+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲלֶהGenesis 2:6+,יַ֫עַלGenesis 44:33+,ו

Possible Meanings:
  • matter (semantic_range)
  • affair (semantic_range)
  • occasion (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H4605 מַעַל
Definition:

abbreviated fromמַעֲלֶה; compareמַ֫עַןinלְמַ֫עַןfrom׃עָנָהKöii. 116): —1מִמַּ֫עַל=above(seeמִן1c)a.asadverbAmos 2:9וָאַשְׁמִידמִּרְיוֺ מִמֵּעַלhis fruitabove(opposed toשָׁרָשָׁיו מִתָּ֑חַת),Job 18:16; abbreviated fromמַעֲלֶה; compareמַ֫עַןinלְמַ֫עַןfrom׃עָנָהKöii. 116): —1מִמַּ֫עַל=above(seeמִן1c)a.asadverbAmos 2:9וָאַשְׁמִידמִּרְיוֺ מִמֵּעַלhis fruitabove(opposed toשָׁרָשָׁיו מִתָּ֑חַת),Job 18:16;

Possible Meanings:
  • going in (semantic_range)
H7307 רוּחַ
Definition:

8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת 8(less oftenmasculineExodus 10:13+)breath, wind, spirit; — absolute׳רGenesis 8:1+,ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; constructרוּחַGenesis 6:17+; suffixרוּחִיGenesis 6:3+,רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30+, etc.; pluralרוּחוֺת

H0929 בְּהֵמָה
Definition:

24137t.; constructבֶּהֱמַתNumbers 3:41(twice in verse) + 10 t.; suffixבְּהֶמְתְּךָLeviticus 19:194t.;בְּהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָExodus 20:104t.;בְּהֶמְתּוֺGenesis 36:6;Proverbs 12:10; plural absoluteבְּהֵמוֺתDeuter 24137t.; constructבֶּהֱמַתNumbers 3:41(twice in verse) + 10 t.; suffixבְּהֶמְתְּךָLeviticus 19:194t.;בְּהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָExodus 20:104t.;בְּהֶמְתּוֺGenesis 36:6;Proverbs 12:10; plural absoluteבְּהֵמוֺתDeuter

Possible Meanings:
  • beast (semantic_range)
  • animal (semantic_range)
  • cattle (semantic_range)
  • wild beasts (semantic_range)
H3381 יָרַד
Definition:

18+;יְרַדJudges 5:13(twice in verse) (but readיָרַדorיֵרֵד);רַדJudges 19:11(readיָרַד), etc.;ImperfectיֵרֵדGenesis 42:38+;וַיֵּ֫רֶדGenesis 11:5+;וַיֵּרַ֑ד2 Samuel 22:102t.; 3 feminine singularתֵּ֫רֶד 18+;יְרַדJudges 5:13(twice in verse) (but readיָרַדorיֵרֵד);רַדJudges 19:11(readיָרַד), etc.;ImperfectיֵרֵדGenesis 42:38+;וַיֵּ֫רֶדGenesis 11:5+;וַיֵּרַ֑ד2 Samuel 22:102t.; 3 feminine singularתֵּ֫רֶד

Possible Meanings:
  • come (semantic_range)
  • go down (semantic_range)
  • descend (semantic_range)
  • come (semantic_range)
  • go down (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H4295 מַטָּה
Definition:

compare the opposed toמַ֫עְלָהִ, belowעָלָה): —1alone,Deuteronomy 28:43and thou shalt descendמַ֫טָּה מָ֑֫טָּהdownwards, downwards, i.e. lower and lower,Proverbs 15:24׳לְמַעַן סוּר מִשְּׁאוֺל מ.2לְמַ֫ט compare the opposed toמַ֫עְלָהִ, belowעָלָה): —1alone,Deuteronomy 28:43and thou shalt descendמַ֫טָּה מָ֑֫טָּהdownwards, downwards, i.e. lower and lower,Proverbs 15:24׳לְמַעַן סוּר מִשְּׁאוֺל מ.2לְמַ֫ט

Possible Meanings:
  • that which is perverted (semantic_range)
  • perverted justice (semantic_range)
H0776 אֶרֶץ
Definition:

11& (seldom)masculineGenesis 13:16earth, land(Phoenician, MIארץ, AssyrianirƒituCOTGloss, Arabic, Sabeanארץֿe.g. Os9DHMZMG 1875, 594, 614; Semitic Sprachf. 12, compare PräBAS i. 374 n., Aramaicאֲרַע,) 11& (seldom)masculineGenesis 13:16earth, land(Phoenician, MIארץ, AssyrianirƒituCOTGloss, Arabic, Sabeanארץֿe.g. Os9DHMZMG 1875, 594, 614; Semitic Sprachf. 12, compare PräBAS i. 374 n., Aramaicאֲרַע,)

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