Ecclesiastes 3:21｜The “Spirit” of Man and Beast 傳道書3:21｜人與動物的「靈」

Ecclesiastes 3:21｜The “Spirit” of Man and Beast

傳道書3:21｜人與動物的「靈」

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Ecclesiastes 3:21 (KJV)

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

傳道書 3:21（和合本）

誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？

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In Ecclesiastes 3:21, both “the spirit of man” and “the spirit of the beast” are described using the same English word: spirit.

然而，在傳道書3:21中，無論是「人的靈」還是「動物的靈」，英文原文都使用同一個詞——spirit。

However, the Chinese translation renders them differently as 「人的靈」 and 「動物的魂」, which may seem to suggest a distinction that is not explicit in the original wording.

但中文卻翻譯為「人的靈」與「動物的魂」，這在字面上形成了一種原文中未明確表達的區別。

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The main point of this passage is not to contrast the eternal nature of man and animals, but to emphasize a shared reality: both face physical death.

這段經文的重點並不是要對比人與動物在本質上的不同，而是指出一個共同的事實：兩者都會面對肉體的死亡。

In terms of earthly existence, man has no advantage over the beast—both return to the dust.

就地上的生命而言，人並沒有比動物更有優勢——都要歸於塵土。

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The “spirit” in this context refers to the animating principle of life—the breath or life-force that sustains a living being.

這裡的「靈」指的是生命的氣息，也就是使生物活著的生命原則。

This life principle is shared by both humans and animals, and it departs at death.

這種生命氣息是人與動物共有的，在死亡時都會離開。

This idea is reflected in passages such as Psalm 104:29–30 and Ecclesiastes 12:7.

這個觀念也出現在詩篇104:29–30與傳道書12:7等經文中。

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However, this passage does not address the higher nature of man.

然而，這段經文並沒有觸及人更高層次的本質。

According to the Bible, only humans are created in the image of God and possess an eternal soul or spirit.

根據聖經，只有人是按神的形象所造，並且擁有永恆的靈魂。

For example, Matthew 10:28 speaks of the “soul” that cannot be killed, and 1 Corinthians 2:11 refers to “the spirit of man” within him.

例如，馬太福音10:28提到不能被殺的「靈魂」，哥林多前書2:11則提到人裡面的「靈」。

James 2:26 also teaches that the body without the spirit is dead.

雅各書2:26也指出，身體沒有靈就是死的。

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Therefore, while both humans and animals share physical death, only humans possess an eternal soul that will face judgment.

因此，雖然人與動物同樣會經歷肉體的死亡，但只有人擁有將來要面對審判的永恆靈魂。

Ecclesiastes 3:19–21 is thus best understood as referring to physical death—not the eternal soul of man.

所以，傳道書3:19–21所談的是肉體的死亡，而不是人的永恆靈魂。

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Reference

Jackson, Wayne.

"Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 -- Man, Animals, and Death."

ChristianCourier.com