Ecclesiastes 3:20 nasb — All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.

NASB

"All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust."

— Ecclesiastes 3:20, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 3:20 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 3 — Context

17

I said to myself, "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

18

I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts."

19

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

20

All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.

21

Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

22

I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

Ecclesiastes 3:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 3:20 say?
Ecclesiastes 3:20 in the NASB reads: “All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 3:20 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 3:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 20.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 3:20.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 3:20 in?
Ecclesiastes 3:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 3:20?
Ecclesiastes 3:20 reads (NASB): “All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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