Checking the various translations I see that you are right that many of them do translate it with "whether" or "if" or imply that meaning. Checking the Hebrew, however, doesn't SEEM to bear out that translation.
HOWEVER, since I once had a little cat I was particularly close to, that was especially devoted to me, I think because I took extraordinary measures to save her from distemper, I'd love to meet her again -- many other pets too but she was special. The raccoon I rescued too, she'd be fun to meet again. I think I'll just leave it for a surprise though.
Actually I do have fond fantasies of getting to pet lions and tigers and bears in the next world. I hope that's possible.
Anyway, here are the references I dug up:
Bible Search and Study Tools - Blue Letter Bible
For who can prove that the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
New Living Translation © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust
NKJV-Ecc 3:21- Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?
New King James Version © 1982 Thomas Nelson
NASB-Ecc 3:21- Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?
New American Standard Bible © 1995 Lockman Foundation
RSV-Ecc 3:21- Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down to the earth?
Revised Standard Version © 1947, 1952.
Webster-Ecc 3:21- Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Noah Webster Version 1833 Info
Young-Ecc 3:21- Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth?
Robert Young Literal Translation 1862, 1887, 1898 Info
Darby-Ecc 3:21- Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?
J.N.Darby Translation 1890 Info
ASV-Ecc 3:21- Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
American Standard Version 1901 Info
HNV-Ecc 3:21- Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the eretz?"
And the original language source:
Bible Search and Study Tools - Blue Letter Bible
If the above link doesn't work, find the verse, Ecc 3:21 at
Bible Search and Study Tools - Blue Letter Bibleand click on "C" for "Concordance" in the blocks of letters to the left of it for the Hebrew and Greek Septuagint originals. There is nothing in the Hebrew that I see that implies an "if " or a "whether".
This message has been edited by Faith, 03-14-2006 12:17 PM
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