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

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Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses his own reflection on human mortality, positioned between his claim that God tests humanity to reveal their beastly nature (Eccl 3:18) and his statement that all bodies return to dust (Eccl 3:20).

The words — The Hebrew word מִקְרֶה (mikreh) is repeated three times, literally translating to "fate" or "chance," to describe the identical destiny of humankind (בְּנֵי אָדָם) and beasts (בְּהֵמָה).

The thread — The comparison of human mortality to animal perishing appears in Psalms 49:12 and 49:20, where neither wealth nor understanding prevents a person from sharing the same fate as beasts.

Why it lands — The verse states that biological death removes any inherent advantage humans claim over animals, requiring the reader to confront the futility of life when measured solely against physical decay.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 49:12 But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
Psalms 49:20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Job 14:10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
Psalms 39:5 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
Psalms 89:47 Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!
Ecclesiastes 2:14 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.
Ecclesiastes 2:20 So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
2 Samuel 14:14 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.
Psalms 92:6 A senseless man does not know, and a fool does not understand,
Psalms 104:29 When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust.