Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Literally, "For the sons of men (Adam) are a mere chance, as also the beast is a mere chance." These words can only be the sentiments of the skeptical oppressors. God's delay in judgment gives scope for the "manifestation" of their infidelity (Ecclesiastes 8:11; Psalms 55:19; 2 Peter 3:3,4). They are "brute beasts," morally (Ecclesiastes 3:18; Judges 1:10); and they end by maintaining that man, physically, has no pre-eminence over the beast, both alike being "fortuities." Probably this was the language of Solomon himself in his apostasy. He answers it in Ecclesiastes 3:21. If Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 be his words, they express only that as regards liability to death, excluding the future judgment, as the skeptic oppressors do, man is on a level with the beast. Life is "vanity," if regarded independently of religion. But Ecclesiastes 3:21 points out the vast difference between them in respect to the future destiny; also (Ecclesiastes 3:17) beasts have no "judgment" to come.
breath--vitality.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Ecclesiastes 3:19
Ecclesiastes 4:2
Ecclesiastes 8:8
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