Ecclesiastes 3 20

Ecclesiastes 3:20 kjv

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

Ecclesiastes 3:20 nkjv

All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 niv

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 esv

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 nlt

Both go to the same place ? they came from dust and they return to dust.

Ecclesiastes 3 verses

Ecclesiastes 3 20 Meaning

Ecclesiastes 3:20 profoundly asserts the universal and inescapable reality of mortality for all living creatures, especially humanity, emphasizing a common destiny. It highlights that everyone and everything originating from the earth's dust will ultimately return to that same dust upon physical death, reducing all distinctions to nothing in the grave. The verse underlines the equality of all beings in their physical end, aligning with the Preacher's recurring theme of the vanity of life "under the sun" in light of ultimate death.

Ecclesiastes 3 20 Context

Ecclesiastes 3:20 concludes a passage (Ecc 3:19-20) where the Preacher reflects on the shared fate of humans and animals. Following the famous section on "a time for everything" (Ecc 3:1-8), the Preacher explores the perceived meaninglessness of life's toil "under the sun" in light of death. He observes that both humans and beasts breathe, live, and ultimately die in the same physical way, going to the same physical end. The verse, therefore, serves to powerfully underscore the universal equality in physical mortality, reinforcing the transient nature of human endeavors and achievements when confronted with the reality of returning to dust. The historical context reflects a time when questions of life's meaning, death, and human purpose were deeply pondered, often without the full revelatory clarity of later biblical teachings concerning an afterlife and resurrection, framing the Preacher's "under the sun" perspective. This observation can be seen as a subtle challenge to contemporary ancient Near Eastern beliefs that might distinguish human physical end or seek immortality through physical preservation (like Egyptian mummification) by asserting a common, humbling return to elemental form.

Ecclesiastes 3 20 Word analysis

• All (הַכֹּל - hakol): This Hebrew term emphasizes universality, signifying "the whole," "everything," or "everyone." Here, it inclusively refers to both humanity and the animals mentioned in the preceding verse (Ecc 3:19), underscoring that the shared fate of death is not exclusive to one species but applies broadly to all living, fleshly creatures. It eliminates any claim of human physical exceptionalism in mortality.

• go to the same place (אֶל-מָקוֹם אֶחָד - el-maqom echad):

  • מָקוֹם (maqom): Literally "place." In this context, it refers to the grave, the ground, or the common destination of physical decomposition. It denotes a singular, undifferentiated end where all bodies physically return, irrespective of social status, wisdom, or wealth.
  • אֶחָד (echad): Means "one" or "same." Reinforces the concept of a shared and uniform end, obliterating distinctions made in life. This challenges human pride and achievements "under the sun."

• all come from dust (הַכֹּל הָיָה מִן-הֶעָפָר - hakol hayah min-he'aphar):

  • הַכֹּל (hakol): Again, "all," including both humans and animals, linking their origins.
  • הֶעָפָר (he'aphar): "the dust," referring specifically to the earth, ground, or dirt. This directly echoes the creation account in Gen 2:7, where humanity was formed from the dust of the ground, establishing an inherent connection between humanity's material origin and its eventual physical dissolution. It grounds existence in earthly, mortal substance.

• and to dust all return (וְאֶל-הֶעָפָר הַכֹּל יָשׁוּב - ve'el-he'aphar hakol yashuv):

  • וְאֶל-הֶעָפָר (ve'el-he'aphar): "and to the dust," reiterating the destination of the return. The repetition of "dust" emphasizes the absolute and finality of the physical dissolution.
  • הַכֹּל (hakol): "all," cementing the universality of this return.
  • יָשׁוּב (yashuv): "return" (from the root שׁוּב - shuv, to turn back, revert). This is a strong verb indicating an inescapable re-entry or reversion to a previous state or place. It highlights that the life cycle is circular in a physical sense: from dust, through life, back to dust. This echoes Gen 3:19, God's decree after the fall, where return to dust is presented as a consequence of sin.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "All go to the same place": This phrase underlines the common physical destiny. It points to a singular outcome for all life forms, irrespective of earthly distinctions. In ancient Near Eastern thought, death often involved descending to Sheol, the land of the dead, a concept implicitly captured in "the same place" for the departed physical being.
  • "all come from dust, and to dust all return": This is a profound statement on physical origin and end, forming a clear chiastic structure (A-B-B'-A') – dust (origin) and dust (return) encasing the universality of all. This symmetrical structure emphasizes the completeness and certainty of the cycle. It connects the natural observation of decay to biblical accounts of creation (Gen 2:7) and the consequences of sin (Gen 3:19). The repetitive nature serves to highlight the sheer inevitability and finality of physical decomposition. It sets clear boundaries on human existence in a "body of dust," contrasting with later revelations about the spirit and eternal life.

Ecclesiastes 3 20 Bonus section

The Preacher's focus "under the sun" in Ecclesiastes emphasizes the observable, physical reality. While Ecclesiastes 3:20 correctly states that "all come from dust, and to dust all return," referring to the physical body, it's crucial to understand this within the full biblical narrative. Later in Ecclesiastes (Ecc 12:7), and particularly throughout the New Testament, a vital distinction is made between the body and the spirit. While the body indeed returns to dust, the spirit does not. It returns to God who gave it, indicating an existence beyond physical dissolution and setting the stage for resurrection and judgment. Thus, while the verse is accurate in describing the physical aspect, it should not be taken as the comprehensive, final word on human destiny, but rather as one significant aspect of the human condition "under the sun" from the Preacher's perspective. It highlights humanity's complete reliance on God even for the very breath of life and ultimately for what happens beyond the grave.

Ecclesiastes 3 20 Commentary

Ecclesiastes 3:20 serves as a stark, realistic observation by the Preacher, driving home the profound humility of human existence. It's a key articulation of his "under the sun" perspective, where earthly achievements and perceived distinctions dissolve in the face of inevitable death. The verse is not nihilistic but rather functions as a sobering truth designed to recalibrate perspective, reminding humanity that worldly endeavors, no matter how grand, do not exempt one from the shared fate of physical dissolution. By linking humanity's origin from dust to its return to dust, the Preacher anchors the reality of death in creation itself, suggesting a divinely ordained cycle for the physical body. It cautions against misplaced confidence in material possessions or human strength, as these are rendered inconsequential at the grave. This universal truth calls for a deeper reflection on what truly holds value in life and how one should live, given the temporary nature of all flesh.