The Advent Truth.
At first glance, some people think Solomon is teaching that humans consciously float away at death while animals do not. But the CONTEXT actually points the opposite direction.

Look at the verses leading into it:

“That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts… as the one dieth, so dieth the other: yea, they have all one breath.” — Ecclesiastes 3:19

Then:

“All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” — verse 20

So Solomon’s argument is that man and beast BOTH:

* die,
* return to dust,
* and share the same “breath” (Hebrew: ruach).

Then comes verse 21:

“Who knoweth…?”

The Hebrew phrase is mi yodea — literally:
“Who can know?” or “Who can perceive?”

That’s not a bold doctrinal declaration. It’s a rhetorical challenge.

Solomon is essentially asking:

“Who can actually prove that man naturally survives death differently than beasts?”

Especially since he JUST said both die and return to dust.

Also, the word “spirit” here is the Hebrew word ruach, which can mean:

* breath,
* wind,
* life-force,
* spirit.

Animals are said to have ruach too:

* Genesis 7:15
* Ecclesiastes 3:19

The Bible’s consistent teaching is that the dead are unconscious until the resurrection:

* Ecclesiastes 9:5 — “the dead know not any thing”
* Psalm 146:4 — “his thoughts perish”
* John 11:11-14 — Jesus called death a sleep
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — the saved rise at Christ’s return

The Bible never teaches that humans possess an inherently immortal soul. Our hope is not natural immortality — it is resurrection through Jesus Christ.

In fact, Satan’s very first lie was:

“Ye shall not surely die.”

And much of modern spiritualism still rests on that same foundation.

The good news is this: believers who die in Christ are resting safely until the resurrection morning.