November 2024 – Semper Reformanda

Ecclesiastes 3:21 | Word Study

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

The tone of this verse seems to be interrogative. (Seow, 168) Many commentators, however get preoccupied with making the distinction between man and animal; that a man’s spirit goes upward and an animal’s spirit goes downward. This distinction does not really seem to be the message here. The focus however, as we have been continuing – is on the vanity of life without God. The emphasis, I suppose is on the point that any/all efforts in securing ‘life after death’ is meaningless. Point (1) we have no control over it – because ultimately only God decides what happens after life. Point (2) speculating ‘life after death’ is not our business – it is meaningless. I suppose most commentators inadvertently commit this second mistake; on what one should do to secure eternal life. Because Qoheleth’s point on the verse is not synonymous to ‘working out one’s salvation.’ (Phil 2:12) The interrogation, I suppose, one could read it as highlighting the absolute vanity of speculating how to secure an afterlife. We’ve been following through the preceding verses that God is sovereign over life: that reasoning extends here to death as well. In short, as in life, so in death – God is sovereign.

Reference:

Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press

Ecclesiastes 3:20 | Word Study

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Ecclesiastes 3:20 (KJV)

‘Death’ is perhaps the most relevant reading of this verse; man, and animal share that same fate. This is also the interesting aspect of the similarity; i.e., vanity. Provan writes, “the similarity of human beings to the animals in this crucial respect is underlined in the fivefold use of Heb. kol, “all,” in 3:19–20: “All have the same breath . . . everything is meaningless.” (104)

Reference:

Provan, I. (2001). Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs: The New Application Commentary, Zondervan

Ecclesiastes 3:19 | Word Study

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 3:19 (KJV)

Man irrespective of their ingenious character, they are subjected to the same fate as animals: same diseases and disasters, calamities and distresses. (Gill) Similarly, when it comes to death, humans have no advantage over animals. (Seow, 168) We continue from v18, on the absolute futile state of human life without religion and the fear of God.

References:

Gill, J. (1748-63). Exposition of the Old Testament, Eccl. 3:19
Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press