Ecclesiastes 3:19 “For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so die…”

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

For 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.

World English Bible

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

American Standard Version

For 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; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are euen as one condition vnto them. As the one dyeth, so dyeth the other: for they haue all one breath, and there is no excellency of man aboue ye beast: for all is vanitie.

Darby Translation

For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.

Young's Literal Translation

For an event [is to] the sons of man, and an event [is to] the beasts, even one event [is] to them; as the death of this, so [is] the death of that; and one spirit [is] to all, and the advantage of man above the beast is nothing, for the whole [is] vanity.

Bible in Basic English

Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“that which”

Psalm 49:12 Psalm 49:20 Ecclesiastes 2:16 Psalm 92:6 Psalm 92:7

Psalm 49:12 · BSB

But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 · BSB

A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Ecclesiastes 2:16 · BSB

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

Psalm 92:6 · BSB

A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,

Psalm 92:7 · BSB

that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.

“as the”

Job 14:10–12 2 Samuel 14:14 Psalm 104:29

Job 14:10–12 · BSB

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

2 Samuel 14:14 · BSB

For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

Psalm 104:29 · BSB

When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.

“for”

Ecclesiastes 2:20–23 Psalm 39:5 Psalm 39:6 Psalm 89:47 Psalm 89:48

Ecclesiastes 2:20–23 · BSB

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

Psalm 39:5 · BSB

You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

Psalm 39:6 · BSB

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Psalm 89:47 · BSB

Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!

Psalm 89:48 · BSB

What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

Also

Ecclesiastes 2:14

Ecclesiastes 2:14 · BSB

The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

18I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

20All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Read Ecclesiastes 3