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.—Ecclesiastes 3:19 (NASB95)
There are two parts of this verse that are puzzling. First, did Solomon suggest that our lives are subject to fate in which our lives are locked in to a pre-determined path?
Many English translations use the word fate in this verse. Even more confusing is the New English Bible which refers to death as a mischance, which means, bad luck.
Many English translations use the word fate in this verse. Even more confusing is the New English Bible which refers to death as a mischance, which means, bad luck.
What does it all mean?
The Hebrew word translated fate in the verse quoted above literally means happening. It was a general way to indicate that something simply happened. It was used to describe Ruth gleaning in the field belonging to Boaz (Ruth 2:3). No one told her to go to that field; she just happened to go there. The word suggests a sense of chance, but not chance as it relates to probabilities.
So, Solomon literally wrote that “that which happens to the sons of men and that which happens to the beasts is the same.” He went on to say that they both die. So, he was not talking about choices made in life, or about events that are inevitably locked in by some mysterious cosmic force (like the Fates of Greek mythology) but simply the final outcome of life...death. So, death happens to man and death happens to beasts. That’s all he meant.
The second puzzling part of the verse is Solomon’s statement that “there is no advantage for man over beast.” That sounds like people are just like my dog Rover; he died and he’s dead all over. In other words (sorry pet lovers), animals just die, and that’s all there is. Disney got it wrong; all dogs go to heaven isn’t true.
Did Solomon really mean that it is the same for mankind? What about the assurances of the afterlife found in the New Testament?
Once again, we must be very careful interpreting Solomon’s words. Unless his perspective is taken into consideration, he is likely to be misunderstand.
Remember that the book of Ecclesiastes is a kind of report of Solomon’s search for meaning. He set out on a mission to find meaning in life but he was aware that he was limited to the physical universe. Solomon knew that he could not bring anything new into the material universe that was not already there. Nor could he remove anything. After all, he was himself a part of the material universe. He acknowledged God, but he could not bring God into his search because God was beyond the material universe.
So, Solomon’s statement must be understood in light of the limitations of his search. If you compare the outcome of the life of humans and beasts within the limitations of the material universe, both die. Without considering anything beyond the limitations of the universe, humans have no advantage over animals. Both came from dust and both return to dust.
All that we know about divine judgment and the afterlife was not discovered by man (not even Solomon). These things have been revealed from beyond the material universe. They are revealed by God.
Mark Stinnett
The Hebrew word translated fate in the verse quoted above literally means happening. It was a general way to indicate that something simply happened. It was used to describe Ruth gleaning in the field belonging to Boaz (Ruth 2:3). No one told her to go to that field; she just happened to go there. The word suggests a sense of chance, but not chance as it relates to probabilities.
So, Solomon literally wrote that “that which happens to the sons of men and that which happens to the beasts is the same.” He went on to say that they both die. So, he was not talking about choices made in life, or about events that are inevitably locked in by some mysterious cosmic force (like the Fates of Greek mythology) but simply the final outcome of life...death. So, death happens to man and death happens to beasts. That’s all he meant.
The second puzzling part of the verse is Solomon’s statement that “there is no advantage for man over beast.” That sounds like people are just like my dog Rover; he died and he’s dead all over. In other words (sorry pet lovers), animals just die, and that’s all there is. Disney got it wrong; all dogs go to heaven isn’t true.
Did Solomon really mean that it is the same for mankind? What about the assurances of the afterlife found in the New Testament?
Once again, we must be very careful interpreting Solomon’s words. Unless his perspective is taken into consideration, he is likely to be misunderstand.
Remember that the book of Ecclesiastes is a kind of report of Solomon’s search for meaning. He set out on a mission to find meaning in life but he was aware that he was limited to the physical universe. Solomon knew that he could not bring anything new into the material universe that was not already there. Nor could he remove anything. After all, he was himself a part of the material universe. He acknowledged God, but he could not bring God into his search because God was beyond the material universe.
So, Solomon’s statement must be understood in light of the limitations of his search. If you compare the outcome of the life of humans and beasts within the limitations of the material universe, both die. Without considering anything beyond the limitations of the universe, humans have no advantage over animals. Both came from dust and both return to dust.
All that we know about divine judgment and the afterlife was not discovered by man (not even Solomon). These things have been revealed from beyond the material universe. They are revealed by God.
Mark Stinnett
August 6, 2023
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